Wollaston's roundleaf bat

Wollaston's roundleaf bat
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Chiroptera
Family: Hipposideridae
Genus: Hipposideros
Species:
H. wollastoni
Binomial name
Hipposideros wollastoni
Thomas, 1913
Wollaston's roundleaf bat range

Wollaston's roundleaf bat (Hipposideros wollastoni) is a species of bat in the family Hipposideridae. It is found in West Papua, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. It was named after the explorer Sandy Wollaston.

Taxonomy and etymology[edit]

It was described as a new species in 1913 by British zoologist Oldfield Thomas. The eponym for the species name "wollastoni" is A. F. R. Wollaston. The holotype used to describe this species was collected during one of Wollaston's expeditions to New Guinea.[2]

Description[edit]

In his initial description of the species, Thomas noted that it was similar in appearance to the Fly River roundleaf bat, Hipposideros muscinus. It differs from the Fly River roundleaf bat in that its posterior nose-leaf has a "peculiar duplication" behind it. Its forearm length is approximately 44 mm (1.7 in) long. Its head and body is 45 mm (1.8 in), while its tail is 27 mm (1.1 in) long. Its ears are 15 mm (0.59 in) long and 13 mm (0.51 in) wide.[2]

Range and status[edit]

This species is only known from the island of New Guinea, in both Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. It has been documented from 30–2,440 m (98–8,005 ft) above sea level. It has been found in montane forests, oak forests, and secondary forests.[1]

It is currently evaluated as least concern by the IUCN—its lowest conservation priority.[1]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Armstrong, K.N.; Aplin, K. (2021) [amended version of 2017 assessment]. "Hipposideros wollastoni". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T10166A209537699. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T10166A209537699.en. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  2. ^ a b Thomas, O. (1913). "On new mammals obtained by the Utakwa Expedition to Dutch New Guinea". The Annals and Magazine of Natural History; Zoology, Botany, and Geology. 8. 12 (68): 205–206. doi:10.1080/00222931308693387.