Rhinolophus malayanus Bonhote.

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 : 89-90

8. Rhinolophus malayanus Bonhote.

(Plate III. fig. 6.)

Rhinolophus malayanus Bonhote, Ease. Malayenses, Zool. , i. (Oct. 1903) p. 15.

Diagnosis. Closely allied to Rh. borneensis , but median anterior nasal swellings somewhat more differentiated. Small: forearm 4 T 2-42 ’ 8 mm.

Details. Externally this Bat is exceedingly like Rh. borneensis , but the shape of the anterior nasal swellings is somewhat different. The colour, too, seems to be constantly different.

The sella is, in vertical direction, a trifle shorter, but the difference is scarcely appreciable without actual comparison with borneensis . The lateral margins of the sella are, practically, parallel from base to summit; an extremely faint constriction can be traced, at least under a lens; summit of sella rounded. Plagiopatagium inserted on tarsus, or very nearly so.

Colour. (1) Biserat specimens; two ♀ ad.; August and September; teeth slightly worn; in alcohol; unfaded. — Upper side a rather dark brown shade of “ drab "; this colour is confined to the tips of the hairs; the much broader base of the hairs so light “ ecru-drab ” as to approach whitish; under side whitish “ecrudrab, ” somewhat darker on the sides of the body.

(2) Laos specimen; ad.; teeth slightly worn; skin.—Very much lighter. Upper side bright “ cinnamon, ” base of fur “ cream buff”; horseshoe patch* on back dark brown; under side bufi’.

It looks like a dark and a light “ phase.” The dark phase differs from that of Rh. borneensis , chiefly, in having the under side of the body much lighter, in strong contrast to the colour of the upper side, and in having also the base of the hairs of the upper side much lighter. The light phase is, as will be seen from this description, totally different from the “ cadmium orange ” phase of borneensis (and more approaching the light phase of Rh. affinis himalayanus).

Skull. Essential characters as in Rh. borneensis , but the median anterior nasal swellings somewhat more distinctly marked oft' from the lateral anterior swellings.

Dentition. p3 external; p., and p4 almost in contact; p2 in row, cusp extremely small.

Measurements. On p. 92.

Distribution. Biserat (Jalor, Malay Peninsula). Laos Mts. (Siam).

Technical name. The type is in the British Museum.

Remarks. From the Laos Mountains, Siam, I have seen one dried skin only (Tomes Collection); it looks like a light-coloured phase of Rh. malayanus ; the nasal swellings of the (fragmentary) skull have the shape characteristic of this species. But fresh material from that region is desirable.