Mindanaonherkko

Horseshoe bats use echolocation calls that are projected from their nasal passages to navigate and locate prey, flying with their mouth closed as the sound is emitted from their nasal passages. The leaf structure may aid in sound modification.

Communication Channels: acoustic

Perception Channels: tactile ; acoustic ; echolocation ; chemical

Deforestation has affected the lowland populations of this species, but has not created a large threat due to the amount of remaining forest at higher elevations.

US Federal List: no special status

CITES: no special status

State of Michigan List: no special status

No economical concerns have been reported resulting from Philippine forest horseshoe bats.

Humans in the Philippines use bats as a source of food. Also insectivorous bats like the Philippine forest horseshoe bats aid in controlling the insect populations, which can be a nuisance for humans and animals (agriculture and wild).

Positive Impacts: food ; controls pest population

There are no documented ecosystem roles of Philippine forest horseshoe bats. However, they probably aid in the control and regulation of insect populations in the Philippines in light of their diet.

Horseshoe bats hunt insects and spiders at night, using echolocation to locate their prey. These bats hunt within 6 m of the ground in a regular territory. The actual consumption of prey occurs either on the ground or at the roost sight.

Animal Foods: insects; terrestrial non-insect arthropods

Primary Diet: carnivore (Insectivore )

Philippine forest horseshoe bats (Rhinolophus inops) inhabit all of the Philippines except the Palawan Region. The range of Philippine forest horseshoe bats includes a wide variety of elevations and some protected areas.

Biogeographic Regions: oriental (Native )

Other Geographic Terms: island endemic

Philippine forest horseshoe bats commonly inhabit primary lowland forests and mountainous forests. These bats are rarely seen in secondary forests. It is found from sea-level to 2250 m in elevation.

Range elevation: 0 to 2250 m.

Habitat Regions: tropical ; terrestrial

Terrestrial Biomes: forest ; mountains

Little is known about the longevity of Philippine forest horseshoe bats. However, Horseshoe bats rarely live longer than 6-7 years, however longer lifespans have been exhibited.

Philippine forest horseshoe bats are completely brown in color; the dorsal fur has rust colored tints and the ventral fur is paler. With a mass of 11 to 18 g, this bat is intermediate in size between related species the arcuate horseshoe bat and small rufous horseshoe bat. A medium sized Philippine forest horseshoe bat has a body length of 76 to 93 mm and a forearm length of 49 to 57 mm. As is true of all members of the family Rhinolophidae, these bats have a horseshoe shaped nasal leaf expansion that surrounds the nostrils. The horseshoe structure is composed of three parts. A lower piece covers the upper-lip and surrounds the nostrils. Above the nostrils is a lancet shaped appendage that protrudes outward. The final piece is known as the sella; it is located between the horseshoe and the lancet. The sella is flattened in the opposite direction to the lancet and the horseshoe (front to back). The nasal leaf is the same width as the muzzle. Rhinolophid ears are rather large (22 to 28 mm) and always lack a tragus. The eyes seem to be obstructed by the nasal leaves and are quite small. In Philippine forest horseshoe bats, the first toe contains 2 bones, while the others contain 3.

Male and female rhinolophid bats are similar in appearance except that females have two teat like appendages that are not involved in mammary function. These “dummy teats” are found in the abdominal region along with two functional teats. Infant bats use these to hold on to their mother as she flies.

The wings of rhinolophid bats are broad and have round ends. While roosting these bats wrap their wings around the body and have been compared to insect cocoons or dried fruit.

Range mass: 11 to 18 g.

Range length: 76 to 93 mm.

Other Physical Features: endothermic ; homoiothermic; bilateral symmetry

Sexual Dimorphism: sexes alike

Predators of Philippine forest horseshoe bats are not known, however the geographic range overlaps with 3 carnivores large enough to consume them. These include common palm civets, Malay civits, and leopard cats.

Anti-predator Adaptations: cryptic

The mating system for Philippine forest horseshoe bats is unknown. Likewise, little is known about the mating systems of groups within Rhinolophidae. Some species appear to form small family groups, while some form colony structures.

No behavioral data are available for Philippine forest horseshoe bats. In other horseshoe bats mating occurs either in autumn, with fertilization delayed until spring. Also for some mating occurs in early spring, with fertilization occurring right away. Since Philippine forest horseshoe bats live in a tropical region, it probably does not hibernate, and therefore could mate at either time. Philippine forest horseshoe bats give birth to a single young each season. Horseshoe bat typically have a 7 week gestation period followed by 1 to 2 months of lactation.

Breeding interval: Philippine forest horseshoe bats give birth once annually.

Breeding season: The breeding season for Philippine forest horseshoe bat is not known.

Range number of offspring: 1 to 1.

Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; seasonal breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; viviparous

No information is available on parental investment in Philippine forest horseshoe bats. However, while female horseshoe bats must carry and nurse their young, males have not been observed providing any parental care.

Parental Investment: female parental care ; pre-weaning/fledging (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Female)