Family Hipposideridae
The family Hipposideridae is also known as the Roundleaf Bats.
Like the Rhinolophidae, one of the most distinctive features is the presence of a complicated noseleaf, which is rounded and divided into three parts:
- the lowest part is called the anterior (meaning front) leaf, and is rounded
- in the middle is a low cushion-like piece that runs from left to right called the intermediate leaf
- at the back is a small leaf, the posterior leaf, which is low and rounded
Look at the photo of the face of Hipposideros diadema and try to find the three parts of the noseleaf.
You should also be able to see the lateral leaflets. These are small flaps of skin on the side of the muzzle, just below the noseleaf. Not all species of Hipposideros have lateral leaflets, and its one of the things we use tell species apart. Hipposideros diadema actually has three lateral leaflets, although we can only see one clearly in this photo.
All Hipposideros have a small tail membrane that stretches between the legs, but doesn’t go much beyond the ankle. The tail itself is fully enclosed by the membrane, with maybe just a millimeter or two of the tail poking out beyond the edge. At each ankle, there is a small rod of cartilage called a calcar, to which the tail membrane is attached, which helps the bat control the position of the membrane in flight.
The Hipposideridae are only found in the Old World tropics, there are nine genera and about 75 species. In Malaysia, there are 3 genera and about 22 species. In Krau, we have caught 12 species, but some of them are pretty rare! We will only be meeting one of the genera, the genus Hipposideros.
All members of the Hipposideridae eat insects, although there is some evidence that the very large species might occasionally be carnivorous, taking small vertebrates and even small bats.
They roost in a variety of places, some species like to roost in caves in large colonies, others in smaller groups in tree hollows.
