Rhinolophus willardi, Kerbis Peterhans & Fahr in Kerbis Peterhans et al, 2013

Burgin, Connor, 2019, Rhinolophidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 280-332 : 299-300

39 . Willard’s Horseshoe Bat

Rhinolophus willardi

French: Rhinolophe de Willard / German: Willard-Hufeisennase / Spanish: Herradura de Willard

Taxonomy. Rhinolophus willardi Kerbis Peterhans & Fahr in Kerbis Peterhans et al, 2013 ,

“ Misotschi-Kabogo highlands, north of Kalemie, Kilicha River, above the western shore of Lake Tanganyika , South Kivu Province, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, 5°06 ' 9”S, 29°03’56”E, 1880 m. ”

Rhinolophus willardi is in the maclaudi species group. Monotypic.

Distribution. Known only from MisotschiKabogo Highlands, E DR Congo.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 61-73 mm, tail 22-26 mm, ear 24- 2-29 mm, hindfoot 12-12- 5 mm, forearm 49-7-51- 5 mm; weight 14-16 g. Dorsal pelage is dark smoky brown; venter is barely paler but more grayish with slight sheen. There is no known orange morph. Males lack axillary tufts. Ears are large (49-56% of forearm length), relatively short for maclaudi group, with twelve internal folds. Noseleaf has subtriangular lancet, with narrow tip; connecting process is low and semicircular; sella is hairy, upright, and about parallel to lancet, having concave sides and distinctly broadened and rounded spoon-shaped top; narial lobes at base ofsella are very enlarged, forming nearly circular cup; nostrils are bordered by semicircular raised rims that are parallel to inner cup; and horseshoe is of medium width at 11- 7 mm, covers muzzle, and has lateral leaflets and conspicuous median emargination. Wings and uropatagium are dark smoky brown. Skull is large; rostral part is elongated; zygomatic width is subequal to mastoid width; chambers of nasal swellings are subcircular in dorsal view; and infraorbital bridge is short and very stout. P2 is small and displaced labially from tooth row, and C1 and P4 are nearly in contact

Habitat. Montane tropical forest at elevations of 1880-1950 m. Holotype of Willard’s Horseshoe Bat was captured in a clearing near a stream in a deep valley. Forest cover on surrounding slopes was dense, with tall trees (40—50 m) and fairly open understory.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. No information.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Not assessed on The IUCN Red List. Willard’s Horseshoe Bat is currently known from only four specimens collected in 2007, none of which were found in a protected area. Virtually nothing is known about its ecology and threats. Additional research is needed to assess its conservation status.

Bibliography. ACR (2018), Kerbis Peterhans et al. (2013).

Figures

On following pages: 27. African Forest Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus silvestris); 28. Upland Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus hillorum); 29. Sakeji Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus sakejiensis); 30. Bokhara Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus bocharicus); 31. Greater Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum); 32. Geoffrey's Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus clivosus); 33. Greater Japanese Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus nippon); 34. Horacek's Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus horaceki); 35. Maclaud's Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus maclaudi); 36. Ziama Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus ziama); 37. Hill's Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus hilli); 38. Kahuzi Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus kahuzi); 39. Willard's Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus willardi); 40. Ruwenzori Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus ruwenzorii); 41. Chinese Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus xinanzhongguoensis); 42. Big-eared Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus macrotis); 43. Osgood's Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus osgoodi); 44. Allen's Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus episcopus); 45. Thai Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus siamensis); 46, Schnitzler's Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus schnitzten); M. King Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus rex); 48. Marshall’s Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus marshalli).

Distribution. Known only from MisotschiKabogo Highlands, E DR Congo .