Hodgson, 1835
Great Himalayan Leaf-nosed bat
External characters (Table 51)
This a large Hipposiderid bat with an average forearm length of 90.1 mm (85.4-95.0 mm). The ears are large (Har4), comparable in size to those of H. diadema and larger than those of H. lankadiva (Hla1). The noseleaf (Har1) has four supplementary leaflets, with the outer leaf distinctly smaller than the other three. The anterior leaf is without a median emargination; the narial lappets are little developed and the internarial septum is not greatly inflated. The intermediate leaf has a well defined median process. It has a large number of vibrissae and the upper surface is "wave-shaped" with at least four convexities and 3 concavities. The posterior leaf has three well defined septa and four cells. Its upper surface has clearly defined median and lateral processes. Behind the posterior leaf, above each eye, there is a fleshy elevation; this is not found in any other species of Hipposideros in the subcontinent. There is a well developed frontal depression in the males; it is less developed in the females. There is a tuft of black hairs projecting from the depression in both sexes. The dorsal pelage is soft and long (Har4), nearly three times the length of that of H. lankadiva (Har5). It is dark grey-brown on the head and shoulders dorsally (Har9) and darker brown on the back and flanks where the hair bases tend to be paler (Har8). The ventral surface is a uniform grey-brown. In the wing, the fifth metacarpal is significantly shorter than the third and fourth. The third metacarpal exceeds the combined lengths of its phalanges. The wing and tail membranes are a uniform dark brown/black. The baculum is short with a broad bilobate base. The tip is expanded and bifid with ventrally projecting processes (Fig. 102).
Cranial characters
The skull is robust with a condylo-canine length averaging 27.5 mm (25.6-29.2 mm). The rostrum is very broad and flattened and is without a distinct nasal depression. The sagittal crest is well developed, especially anteriorly where it bifurcates forming a shallow supraorbital ridge above each eye. The zygomata are broadly flared posteriorly and with well developed processes on the jugal bone. The cochleae are smaller than those of H. diadema ; the tympanic bullae are also small. The mesopterygoid space is broad with its anterior border U-shaped; its roof is elevated above the floor of the narial canal; in H. diadema and H. lankadiva , there is no such step-like discontinuity between the two. Unlike H. diadema , the vomer projects beyond the posterior edge of the broad palate. The mandible is very robust. The coronoid process is tall, with its posterior surface angled steeply downwards to the condyle.
Dentition
- Upper toothrow length (C-M3) averages 12.0 mm (11.3-12.5 mm). The upper incisor (I2) is bicuspid. The canine is massive, very broad at the base and with a well defined cingulum. The first upper premolar (PM2) is small, occasionally absent, and extruded from the toothrow. The second premolar (PM4) is very broad basally and is usually in contact with the canine. M1 and M2 are equal in size. M3 is greatly reduced, it is comprised of a parastyle, mesostyle and two commissures; a vestige of a third commissure is sometimes present.
- The lower incisors are tricuspid and overlapping; in contrast to H. lankadiva , i2 does not greatly exceed i1 in crown area (Fig. 100). The canine is tall, with a well defined cingulum. The first lower premolar (pm2) is well developed with a crown area about half to two-thirds that of the second (pm4). The talonid of m3 is considerably reduced; it is about half the crown area of the trigonid.
Variation
Specimens from the Indian subcontinent are referred to the nominate race H. a. armiger.
Distribution
Hipposideros armiger ranges from India, Nepal and Myanmar to southern China, Vietnam, Malaysia and Taiwan.