Rhinolophus hipposiderus Bechst

Andersen, Knud, 1905, On some Bats of the Genus Rhinolophus, with Remarks on their Mutual Affinities, and Descriptions of Twenty-six new Forms., Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 2, pp. 75-145 : 139-140

27. Rhinolophus hipposiderus Bechst .

Diagnosis. Sella cuneate; summit pointed. Forearm 34 ’ 7- 4 ’7 mm.

Details. Breadth of sella at base never more, but generally less than half its vertical height.

Colour. (1) Younger, but quite full-grown individuals; skins; Cyprus, S. Carpathians, Switzerland. Very nearly “ mouse-grey ” above; horse-shoe patch faintly, or not at all, indicated; base

of hairs of the upper side and the whole of the under side “ drabgrey."

(2) Aged individuals; skins; Cyprus, Malta, Balearic Islands, Switzerland, Germany. Much browner. General colour above brownish “ drab,” with some individual variation in the shade of the colour: sometimes almost “ wood-brown ” (lightest extreme), sometimes with a tinge of “ Prout’s brown ” (darkest extreme); horse-shoe patch indicated, or quite obliterated; base of hairs u ecru-drab ”; under side “ ecru-drab, ” sometimes with a tendency towards “ drab-grey. ”

Skull. As in Rh. midas .

Dentition. As in minor and midas . In the series of skulls examined (20; of all races) there is, of course, some variation in the position of p3; the general rule is: p3 external, po and p4 almost or quite in contact; one extreme: p3 almost in row (one skull), and p2 and p4, therefore, well separated; the other extreme: p3 not only external, but hair-fine (four skulls; teeth unworn), or disappeared and the alveoli obliterated (two skulls; teeth unworn).

Distribution. From Gilgit to Ireland; from the Baltic to Sennar.

Geographical races. The series examined—95 examples, from almost the whole area occupied by the species—enables me to recognise three races of Rh. hipposidyerus. The first two of these would probably be called distinct species by other zoologists.