Andersen, 1905
Lesser Woolly Horseshoe bat
External characters (Table 37a, Table 37b)
This species (Rbe1, Rbe2) cannot be distinguished from R. luctus except by its overall smaller size. Forearm length ranges from 54.9- 64.3 mm.
Cranial characters
The skull (Fig. 78) has an average condylo-canine length of 23.9 mm (23.4-24.4 mm) based on specimens from India. It is distinctly smaller than that of R. luctus . The zygomata and the anterior border of the palate are relatively wider. The nasal pit which is posterior to the rostral inflations is shallower than that of R. luctus and the tympanic bullae are less inflated.
Dentition
- Upper toothrow length (C-M3) averages 10.3 mm (10.1-10.4 mm) for specimens from India. The first upper premolar (PM2) is a functional tooth that lies within the toothrow (Fig. 79); it is not usually in contact with the upper canine, the base of which, unlike that of R. luctus , does not have a concavity in the cingulum, postero-externally.
- The second lower premolar (pm3) is extruded from toothrow to a variable extent; in some individuals the first (pm2) and third (pm4) premolars are in contact.
Variation
Specimens from Sri Lanka are significantly smaller than those from peninsular India and have been referred to R. b. sobrinus .