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Rhinolophus megaphyllus
smaller horseshoe bat


By Maya DiMeglio

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Chiroptera
Family: Rhinolophidae
Genus: Rhinolophus
Species: Rhinolophus megaphyllus

Geographic Range

Rhinolophus megaphyllus (smaller horseshoe bat or eastern horseshoe bat) is found in a large part of the Oriental biogeographic region and the eastern Australian region. Its distribution is throughout Thailand, Malaysia, Moluccas, New Guinea, the Lesser Sunda Islands, and the east coast of Australia. Accounts suggest that smaller horseshoe bats are found in the eastern portion of New Guinea. (Flannery, 1995; Grzimek, et al., 2003)

Biogeographic Regions
oriental (Native ); australian (Native )

Habitat

Smaller horseshoe bats are found in temperate and tropical rainforests, deciduous forest, sclerophyll forest, woodlands, coastal scrub, and grasslands. They roost in caves, mines, rock outcrops, and non-occupied buildings. Smaller horseshoe bats can be seen forming colonies in abandoned bunkers. During the breeding season colonies are usually small, having less than twenty bats. However, outside of the breeding season, colonies consist of two thousand individuals. Those bats that occupy temperate regions become torpid during winter months and form single roosts. Tropical areas are occupied year round the bats remain active. ("Australian Museum Online", 2007; Grzimek, et al., 2003; Strahan, 1995)

Habitat Regions
temperate ; tropical ; terrestrial

Terrestrial Biomes
savanna or grassland ; forest ; rainforest ; scrub forest

Other Habitat Features
suburban ; caves

Physical Description

Range mass
7 to 10.5 g
(0.25 to 0.37 oz)

Average mass
7.5 g
(0.26 oz)

Range length
6.6 to 8.1 cm
(2.60 to 3.19 in)

Average length
7 cm
(2.76 in)

Individuals have gray brown fur, with the abdominal fur being lighter than the rest. The lower portion of the nose is shaped like a horseshoe and there is a pointed nasal appendage on above the nose. There is a rufous form of smaller horseshoe bats that occurs in Queensland, Australia. These individuals tend to have more grey fur, as opposed to the standard brown. They are unique from the rest due to their fur, which changes color with age and sex. ("Australian Museum Online", 2007; Flannery, 1995; Grzimek, et al., 2003; Menkorst, 1995; Nowak, 1994; Strahan, 1995; Taylor, 1984)

Other Physical Features
endothermic ; heterothermic ; bilateral symmetry

Sexual Dimorphism
sexes colored or patterned differently

Reproduction

One account of copulation places the incident during midday, in a cave; both individuals were hanging upside down by their toes. Smaller horseshoe bats are thought to be a polygynous species. (Grzimek, et al., 2003; Strahan, 1995)

Mating System
polygynous

Breeding interval
Smaller horseshoe bats give birth once yearly.

Breeding season
Breeding occurs from February to March.

Average number of offspring
1

Average gestation period
4 months

Range weaning age
6 (low) weeks

Average weaning age
8 weeks

Range time to independence
5 to 6.5 weeks

Average time to independence
5 weeks

Range age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female)
2 to 3 years

Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female)
3 years

Range age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male)
2 to 2.5 years

Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male)
2 years

Males produce sperm starting, approximately, in February and continuing through March. In the latter part of June copulation, ovulation, and fertilization occur. Gestation has a duration of approximately four months. Births occur from late October through November. The offspring are nursed for two months. During pregnancy females form maternity colonies that may have as few as fifteen individuals or as many as two thousand. This formation occurs during the spring and summer seasons, with choice roosting being in humid caves. The conditions of the cave are thought to increase the metabolic rate of individuals and ensure quick development of young. Maternity colonies created by females are distinct from winter roosts. There may only be a few males present, whereas the winter roosts are inhabited by males continuously. Males reach sexual maturity in the second to third year of life; females reach sexual maturity in their third year of life, sometimes the latter part of their second. (Grzimek, et al., 2003; Menkorst, 1995; Pavey, 1998; Strahan, 1995)

Key Reproductive Features
iteroparous ; seasonal breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); viviparous ; sperm-storing

Like other bat species, smaller horseshoe bat females care for their young until they can fly and find food on their own. Females invest heavily in young during gestation and lactation and young are adult sized within a few months of birth.

Parental Investment
altricial ; pre-fertilization (Provisioning, Protecting: Female); pre-hatching/birth (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Female); pre-weaning/fledging (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Female)

Lifespan/Longevity

There is no information on the longevity of smaller horseshoe bats.

Behavior

Rhinolophus megaphyllus is thought to select roosts based on high humidity and relatively warm temperatures. Complete darkness does not appear to be a requirement. The high humidity of roost caves is thought to help keep bats from needing as much water, especially during times of inactivity. Roosts used for communal, year round living by the colony, are found in a variety of different locations. Caves are the top choice, however rock outcrops, abandoned buildings and bunkers are also used. Maternity colonies only occur in caves. (Grzimek, et al., 2003; Menkorst, 1995; Strahan, 1995)

Key Behaviors
troglophilic; flies; nocturnal ; migratory ; sedentary ; hibernation ; social ; colonial

Home Range

Home ranges are not documented for smaller horseshoe bats.

Communication and Perception

Members of Rhinolophus megaphyllus navigate and find food through the use of echolocation. They use constant frequency calls of 67 to 71 kHz. Individuals communicate through audible vocalizations and chemical cues. These bats also have keen vision. (Pavey and Burwell, 2005)

Communication Channels
acoustic ; chemical

Perception Channels
visual ; ultrasound ; echolocation

Food Habits

Smaller horseshoe bats are insectivores. They eat moths, other flying insects, and spiders. The prey they prefer are moths, specifically Speiredonia spectans and Speiredonia mutabilis. They obtain food primarily while flying. Their flight patterns are characterized by slow, fluttering flight around dense foliage. The echolocation calls of smaller horseshoe bats occur at frequencies that permit distinguishing between flying prey and the surrounding foliage. Smaller horseshoe bats stay primarily in wooded areas. They do not forage over grasslands. Individuals also capture prey by flying out from a stationary perch to catch passing prey. ("Australian Museum Online", 2007; Grzimek, et al., 2003; Pavey and Burwell, 2005; Pavey, 1998)

Primary Diet
carnivore (Insectivore , Eats non-insect arthropods)

Animal Foods
insects; terrestrial non-insect arthropods

Predation

There are no specific reports of predation on smaller horseshoe bats. In general, bats are preyed on by owls and other raptors in flight and by arboreal predators in their cave roosts.

Anti-predator Adaptations
cryptic

Ecosystem Roles

Smaller horseshoe bats are important predators of insects in their native ecosystems.

Economic Importance for Humans: Positive

Smaller horseshoe bats are important member of native ecosystems. Their predation on flying insects can impact agricultural pest populations, providing a benefit to farmers.

Positive Impacts
controls pest population

Economic Importance for Humans: Negative

There are no known adverse effects of Rhinolophus megaphyllus on humans (Grzimek, et al., 2003)

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species [Link]
Least Concern
More Information

US Federal List [Link]
No special status

CITES [Link]
No special status

The status of Rhinolophus megaphyllus on IUCN Red List is lowest risk, least concern. This species was not listed under any appendices of CITES.

Other Comments

In most reference books these bats are referred to as eastern horseshoe bats.

For More Information

Find Rhinolophus megaphyllus information at

Contributors

Tanya Dewey (editor), Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.

Maya DiMeglio (author), University of Oregon, Stephen Frost (editor, instructor), University of Oregon.

References

Australian Museum. 2007. "Australian Museum Online" (On-line). Bats in Australia. Accessed October 05, 2007 at http://www.austmus.gov.au/bats/records/bat15.htm.

Flannery, T. 1995. Mammals of New Guinea. New York: Cornell University Press.

Grzimek, B., N. Schlager, D. Olendorf. 2003. Eastern Horseshoe Bat. Pp. 387-396 in M McDade, ed. Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia, Vol. Volume 13, Second Edition. Farmington Hills, MI: Thomson Gale Group.

Menkorst, P. 1995. Oxford Mammals of Victoria. Melbourne: Oxford University Press.

Nowak, R. 1994. Walker's Bats of the World. London: The John Hopkins University Press.

Pavey, C. 1998. Habitat use by the eastern horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus megaphyllus, in a fragmented woodland mosaic. Wildlife Research, 25/5: 489-498.

Pavey, C., C. Burwell. 2005. Cohabitation and predation by insectivourous bats on eared moths in subterranean roosts. Journal of Zoology, 265: 141-146.

Strahan, R. 1995. Mammals of Australia. Washington D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press.

Taylor, J. 1984. Oxford Guide to Mammals of Australia. Melbourne: Oxford University Press.

To cite this page: DiMeglio, M. 2008. "Rhinolophus megaphyllus" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed June 01, 2012 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Rhinolophus_megaphyllus.html

Disclaimer: The Animal Diversity Web is an educational resource written largely by and for college students. ADW doesn't cover all species in the world, nor does it include all the latest scientific information about organisms we describe. Though we edit our accounts for accuracy, we cannot guarantee all information in those accounts. While ADW staff and contributors provide references to books and websites that we believe are reputable, we cannot necessarily endorse the contents of references beyond our control.

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