The Action Plan for Australian Bats
Environment Australia, 1999
ISBN 0 642 2546 363
Recovery outlines and taxon summaries (continued)
Taxon summary: Lesser Large-eared Horseshoe Bat
Family: Rhinolophidae
Scientific name: Rhinolophus philippinensis Waterhouse, 1843 (small form)
Common name: Lesser Large-eared Horseshoe Bat
Conservation status: Data Deficient
Past range and abundance
Not known but was inadvertently included in the general distribution for R. philippinensis on Cape York Peninsula (Hall and Richards 1979, Strahan 1983). The taxonomic relationship of this taxon to R. philippinensis (large form) is unclear (see Taxonomy section for further discussion).
Present range and abundance
Now recognised from collection records as distributed in eastern central Cape York Peninsula, from Iron Range to McIlwraith Range (Churchill 1998). Current records of this form are localised and it is not known of further north than Iron Range or further south than McIlwraith Range (Peach Creek headwaters).
Habitat
Presumably rainforest/monsoonal vine forest. Foraging behaviour has not been observed and diet is unknown. No roosts are known but these are likely to be subterranean (mines and caves).
Current threats
None confirmed. This species is likely to be restricted to subterranean roosts and therefore presumably susceptible to the same type of disturbance that would affect other Rhinolophid and Hipposiderid species. May be affected by rainforest logging also.
Recommended actions
- Undertake targetted surveys for the species to clarify distribution and abundance.
- Carry out ecological research to meet recovery objectives i.e. determine:
- habitat requirements;
- roost and maternity site selection;
- foraging strategy;
- population dynamics; and
- threatening processes.
- Protect and secure roost sites, including the design of a suitable bat gate.
- Clarification of taxonomy.
Bibliography
Hall L.S. and Richards G.C. 1979. Bats of Eastern Australia. Queensland Museum Booklet No. 12. Queensland Museum, Brisbane.
Strahan R. (Ed.) 1983. The Australian Museum Complete Book of Australian Mammals. Angus & Robertson, Sydney.
Waterhouse G.R. 1843. Various species of bats from the Philippine Islands, collected by H. Cuming Esq. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1843, 66–69.
Authors for the species
Sue Churchill
Chris Clague
Roger Coles
Terry Reardon