In plain sight: Bacular and noseleaf morphology supports distinct specific status of Roundleaf Bats Hipposideros pomona Andersen, 1918 and Hipposideros gentilis Andersen, 1918 (Chiroptera: Hipposideridae)

Abstract

The taxonomic status of Andersen’s Roundleaf Bat Hipposideros pomona (Chiroptera: Hipposideridae) and its relationship with the taxa assigned to it has been confusing. Knud Andersen described H. pomona (based on specimens from southern India) and H. gentilis (based on specimens from Myanmar) in 1918. Subsequently, the latter taxon was included under the former as a subspecies. Owing to disjunct distribution, it was speculated that these two taxa are distinct. Discovery of the type material and additional vouchers of both taxa in the National Collection of Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata allowed detailed comparison. Based on the morphological, craniodental and bacular characters, we establish the distinctness of these taxa. A redescription of H. pomona Andersen, 1918 is provided.

Keywords

• disjunct distribution
• redescription
• taxonomic status.