RHINOLOPHUS AFFINIS

Rhinolophus affinis

Rhinolophus affinis, also known as the Intermediate Horseshoe Bat, is a species of bat in the Rhinolophidae family. It is found in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Arrangement:

Kingdom	ANIMALIA
Phylum	CHORDATA
Class	MAMMALIA
Order	CHIROPTERA
Family	RHINOLOPHIDAE
Genus	Rhinolophus
Species	R. affinis
Binomial name	RHINOLOPHUS AFFINIS
Common Name/s	INTERMEDIATE HORSESHOE BAT

Geographic Range

Range Description:

This very common species is present throughout much of South Asia, southern and central China and Southeast Asia. In South Asia, this species is presently known from Bangladesh (Sylhet division), Bhutan (Gedu), India (Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Uttaranchal and West Bengal) and Nepal (Central and Western Nepal). In China, it has been reported from Hunan, Shanxii, Hubei, Guizhou, Sichuan, Yunnan, Zhejiang, Fujian, Jiangxi, Guangdong, Hong Kong, Guangxi, Jiangsu, Anhui and Hainan island. In Southeast Asia, it ranges from Myanmar in the west, through Thailand, Lao PDR and Viet Nam, into Peninsular Malaysia, Indonesia (Sumatra, Java and the Lesser Sunda Islands), to southern parts of the island of Borneo (Indonesia and Malaysia). Reports of this species from Cambodia cannot currently be confirmed .

Intermediate Horseshoe Bat range

Countries:

Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, India (Andaman Is.),Indonesia (Kalimantan, Lesser Sunda Is., Sumatera), Lao People's Democratic Republic, Malaysia (Sabah, Sarawak), Myanmar, Nepal, Singapore, Thailand, Viet Nam.

MORPHOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION:

· Dorsal fur is darker or lighter brown, sometimes coriaceous buff. Ventral fur is from brown to cream-buff.

· Juveniles are lighter than adults.
· A medium to fairly large horseshoe bat. Over its range, forearm length varies between 46.0- 55.5mm. Body masses 13.5 - 14.6 g. Forearm lengths of horseshoe bats 50.2-54.9 mm.

Habitat and Ecology:

In South Asia, this is a highly adjustable species. It roosts in cavities, and is found commonly in man-made habitats such as plantations, degraded habitats and agriculture areas. In Southeast Asia, it has been recorded from primary and secondary forest, occasionally in cultivated areas, but is not found in urban areas. It has a tendency to roost in cavities, and colonies can be large, up to thousands of Individuals. Species searches in understory of forest, and is not thought to be dependent on water. In China it is considered to be a cavity roosting species, found both in the wet western highlands and in the more tropical eastern lowlands.

MAJOR THREAT(S):

There appear to be no major threats to this prevalent and slightly adaptable species. However, limestone abstraction may be a threat locally in South Asia.