Rhinolophus truncatus Peters, 1871

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 : 80-81

3. Rhinolophus truncatus Peters .

Rhinolophus truncatus Peters , MB. Akad. Berlin, 1871, p. 307.

Rhinolophus meqaphyllus (non Gray) , var. a, Dobson, Cat. Cliir. Brit. Mus. (1878) p..

Diagnosis. Allied to Rh. simpleX . Sella more slightly constricted

at middle. Summit of sella square-cut, or even concave. Base of fur almost blackish. Forearm 44 ’ 7-46 ’ 8 mm.

Details. In this species the sella * is not of the shape characteristic of Rh. simpleX and megaphyllus . It is narrower, not considerably broader at the base than at the summit, and the constriction at the middle is less distinct. This points decidedly away from simpleX , and towards nanus , celebensis , and borneensis . The square-cut (or concave) summit of the sella seems to be a. rather common feature in those forms of the present section of the group which are inhabitants of small islands (cf. Rh. megaphyllus monachus, Rh. nanus , Rh. borneensis spadiX). Lancet long and cuneate. Wing-structure and proportionate length of tail as in simpleX . Plagiopatagium inserted on tarsus.

Colour (six skins; adult individuals, but teeth quite, or almost, unworn). Very peculiar. General impression: a very dark brown. Details: hairs of upper side “ broccoli-brown ” at tip; below the tip, for a broad space, almost “ clove-brown ” (more exactly: an exceedingly dark shade of “ hair-brown, ” very much approaching clove-brown); the extreme base of the hairs, immediately at the skin, again somewhat lighter. Individual hairs of the under side much of the same colour, but the tips more brightly broccolibrown, giving the under side a somewhat lighter appearance. All the specimens are exactly alike in colour.

Skull. Essential characters as in Rh. simpleX . Nasal swellings

narrow. Dentition. p3 is, if anything, a little more reduced than in

simpleX . In two skulls I find it placed in the tooth-row, but slightly towards the external side; in a third, on the one side half external, on the other external; in a fourth, external on both sides, and the interspace between p, and p4 therefore very narrow. p2 is always in the tooth-row; its cusp rather well developed, though somewhat smaller than in simpleX . No interspace between p2 and p1.

Measurements. On p. 84.

Distribution. Batchian.

Technical name. One of the two typical specimens (in the Berlin Museum) was collected on Batchian by A. R. Wallace and forwarded to Prof. Peters by Tomes. The whole series in the British Museum is from the same island and the same collector, and four of the examples belong to the recently acquired Tomes Collection; they are therefore practically (though not technically) co-types.

Remarks. The dentition of Rh. truncatus proves it to be on a slightly higher level than simpleX ; the interspace between the upper canine and p4 is a little narrower, p2 a little more reduced. The vacillation in the position of p3 gives evidence of the same tendency as in simpleX : towards the more advanced members of the group. In the shape of the nose-leaves it has taken a course pointing towards borneensis . In its coloration it seems to stand alone. K.