Kock and Bhat, 1994
Kolar Leaf-nosed bat
External characters (Table 47)
This description is based on Kock and Bhat, 1994 and two specimens (BM.59.606 and BM.59.607) from Mysore. This is a small species with an average forearm measurement of 38.9 mm (37.1-40.0 mm). It is characterised by the presence of a single pair of well developed supplementary leaflets. This contrasts to H. pomona and H. fulvus (BW18) which are without leaflets and H. galeritus (Hga1) which has two pairs. The anterior leaf of the horseshoe is without a median emargination; the internarial septum is not inflated and the nostrils are not covered by narial lappets. The intermediate leaf is narrower than the anterior leaf; it is slightly hairy and has two vibrissae; its upper margin is shallowly emarginated and there is a small inflation present medially which differs in size between individuals. The posterior leaf is broader than the anterior leaf; it is comparatively short and has three vertical septa forming four cells, the lateral ones narrower and shorter than the central pair. A small horizontal frontal sac is present behind the posterior noseleaf with a tiny brush of blackish hairs protruding from it and with denser hair surrounding it. The ears are large; they are broadly subtriangular and funnel-shaped. There is a distinct concavity on the posterior border of each ear beneath the rounded-off tip. Adults vary from greyish brown to rufous brown on the dorsal surface. They are fulvous white on the ventral aspect. They look duller in colour during June to October and brighter during November to May. Juveniles are dark grey to brownish grey on the back and light grey on the belly. Adults males weigh between 3.6 and 6.0 grams; adult females weigh 4.1-6.2 grams and up to 7.8 grams in late pregnancy. In the wings, the fifth metacarpal is shorter than the third and fourth. This is similar to H. galeritus and H. speoris and differs from H. fulvus and H. pomona in which the third is shorter than the fifth.
Cranial characters
The skull has an average condylo-canine length of 14.5 mm (14.2-14.8 mm). It is elongated but with the rostrum broader and more inflated than that of H. p. pomona . The rostrum is high in lateral view on account of the anterior nasal inflations. There is a small nasal pit. The zygomatic arches are slender, not dorsally arched; there is a small dorsal process on each jugal bone. Zygomatic width is subequal to mastoid width. There is a very low sagittal crest in the frontal region only. The premaxillaries are long. The anterior palatal emargination reaches posteriorly to the middle of M1. The anterior border of the mesopterygoid space is level with the mesostyle of M3. The sphenoidal bridge is wide; the basisphenoidal pits are broad, circular, moderately deep but not well defined. The mandibles are rather slender with the symphysis low.
Dentition
- Upper toothrow length (C-M3) averages 5.5 mm (5.3-5.7 mm). The upper incisor (I2) is bulky and very indistinctly trifid when unworn. The canine has a well defined cingulum, postero-internally. The first upper premolar (PM2) is small; it is not extruded from the toothrow and separates the canine from the second premolar (PM4). M3 is reduced; it includes a parastyle, mesostyle and three commissures. The lower incisors are distinctly trifid.
- The lower canine is relatively long, slender and with the cingulum stronger on the internal aspect. The first lower premolar (pm2) is just over half the height and is equal in length to the second premolar (pm4); this agrees with H. p. pomona (Fig. 91). m3 is slightly shorter and narrower than m2.
Variation
All specimens are referred to the nominate form H. h. hypophyllus .