Rhinolophus capensis, Lichtenstein, 1823

Dobson, George Edward, 1878, Rhinolophus, Catalogue of the Chiroptera in the collection of the British Museum, London: British Museum, pp. 100-122 : 121-122

23. Rhinolophus capensis .

Rhinolophus capensis, IÀchtenstein , Verz. Zool. Mus. Beri. p. 4 (1823) Keys. Blas. Wiegm. Archiv, v. p. 328 (1839); Peters, MB. Ahad. Beri. 1871, p. 310.

Rhinolophus geoffroyii, Smith , Zool. Journ. ii. p. 433 (1829).

Rhinolophus clivosus, Smith (non Rüppell), African Zoology, part i. Mammalia , p. 23 (1834).

Rhinolophus auritus, Victorin , Sundevall, Vetensk. Akad, Handl. Stockholm, p. 3 (1858) (vide Peters, I. c.).

Ears as long as the head, broad, subacutely pointed, not attenuated near the tips as in Rh. ferrum-equinum; the inner margin of the ear-conch convex in its upper third, the outer margin concave for a short distance immediately beneath the tip, then convex; the antitragus separated by a very shallow notch; horizontal horseshoe ­ shaped membrane not concealing the muzzle though covering it anteriorly, the remaining parts of the nose-leaf similar to those in Rh. ferrum-equinum (Plate VII. fig. 11).

Interfemoral membrane short, straight along free margin; tip of the tail very slightly projecting. Wing-membrane from the tarsus.

Fur as in Rh. ferrum-equinum.

First upper premolar minute, in the very narrow space between the canine and second premolar, half external.

Length (of an adult ♀ preserved in alcohol), head and body 2"T5, tail 0"’85, head O',-9, ear O',-9, nose-leaf 0"-55x0"-3, forearm " ’9, thumb 0”’3; third finger—metacarp. 1"- 3, 1st ph. 0"'65, 2nd ph.]''•!; fourth finger—metacarp. " ’5, 1st ph. 0"’35, 2nd ph. 0',-65; fifth finger—metacarp. 1"-45, 1st ph. 0"-45, 2nd ph. 0”-55; tibia 0"-75, foot 0"-45.

Hab. South Africa (Zanzibar, Cape Colony).

This species resembles Rh. ferrum-equinum very closely in the form of its nose-leaf, but may be at once distinguished by the very different form of the ears, and by the position of the first minute upper premolar.

a, b, c. ♀ ad., al. Zanzibar. Dr. Kirk [P.].

d-n. ♂ & ♀ ad., al. Cape Town. Trustees S. African Mus. [P.].

o, p. ad. sk. Cape of Good Hope.

q. skull of c.

r. skeleton . Cape Town. Trustees S. African Mus. [P.].