(Schneider, 1800)
Schneider's Leaf-nosed bat
External characters (Table 49)
Although the forearm length averages 50.7 mm (45.6-54.0 mm) which significantly exceeds that of H. fulvus , the ears are markedly smaller (Hsp1, BW18). The noseleaf has three supplementary leaflets, of which the outer is distinctly smaller than the other two (BW19). The anterior leaf measures about 5.0 mm at its widest part (excluding leaflets) with the median emargination scarcely evident (BW20). The narial lappets are well developed. The intermediate leaf has a slightly concave upper edge. The posterior leaf is divided into four cells by three vertical septa, its upper edge is slightly thickened and without processes. A frontal sac is present in males; in females, it is represented by a tuft of hairs. The feet are large in comparison to those of H. fulvus . The pelage colour is variable. Some individuals are grey, palest on the ventral surface and between the shoulders on the upper back (Hsp2); they are darker on the flanks and posteriorly. Others are yellowish-brown (Hsp3) or bright orange-brown. The body weight of males and non-pregnant females is 8.5-12.4 grams, with the average weight of adult specimens of both sexes being 10 gms. A few females, however, carrying a full term foetus weigh 14.5 grams (Gopalakrishna et al., 1991). As in H. galeritus , the fifth metacarpal is significantly shorter than the fourth and third. In contrast to H. fulvus , the combined length of the phalanges of the third metacarpal are shorter than the metacarpal. The baculum is minute with a slightly expanded base, narrow shaft and a simple blunt tip (Fig. 94).
Cranial characters
The skull (Fig. 96) with an average condylo-canine length of 16.6 mm (15.9-17.5 mm), is significantly larger than that of H. galeritus with the rostrum, zygomata and braincase much broader. The rostral inflations are less bulbous than those of H. galeritus and in consequence there is no frontal depression posterior to them. The sagittal crest is present but not greatly developed. The mesopterygoid space is U-shaped anteriorly. The horizontal ramus of each half mandible is relatively deep in comparison to H. galeritus ; the coronoid process is distinctly taller and the angular process is long and robust.
Dentition
- Upper toothrow length (C-M3) averages 7.1 mm (6.6-7.5 mm). The first upper premolar (PM2) is compressed and slightly extruded from toothrow (Fig. 97). M3 includes a parastyle, mesostyle and three commissures; the third commissure is very short.
- The first lower premolar (pm2) has a crown area about two-thirds the size of the second (pm4).
Variation
Andersen, 1918 suggested that the taxon pulchellus from Bellary (Karnataka) had an average greatest length of skull of 18.8 mm (18.0-19.8 mm) and a forearm length of 49.4 mm (45.8-51.5 mm) and that this was significantly smaller than that of H. s speoris from the rest of India (19.7 mm; 19.0-20.3 mm and 52.0 mm; 49.8-54.0 mm respectively). Sinha, 1976 however found these apparent differences to be inconclusive and included pulchellus as a synonym of the nominate subspecies. All specimens from the subcontinent are currently referred to the nominate race H. s. speoris .