Semon's leaf-nosed bat

Semon's leaf-nosed bat or Semon's roundleaf bat (Hipposideros semoni) is a species of bat in the family Hipposideridae.[2] It is found in Australia and Papua New Guinea.

Semon's leaf-nosed bat

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Chiroptera
Family: Hipposideridae
Genus: Hipposideros
Species:
H. semoni
Binomial name
Hipposideros semoni
Matschie, 1903
Semon's roundleaf bat range

Taxonomy and etymology

It was described as a new species in 1903 by German zoologist Paul Matschie. The eponym for the species name "semoni" was fellow German zoologist Richard Semon. Semon's research voyage to Australia procured the holotype that Matschie used to describe the new species.[3]

Description

Its head and body is 40–50 mm (1.6–2.0 in) long, while its wingspan is approximately 320 mm (13 in). Individuals weigh 6–10 g (0.21–0.35 oz). It has long, narrow ears with sharply pointed tips. Its fur is a dark, smoky gray in color, with individual hairs relatively long.[4]

Biology and ecology

It is nocturnal, roosting in sheltered places during the day such as abandoned mines, caves, hollow trees, and rock fissures. It will roost singly or in small colonies. It is insectivorous, preying on arthropods such as spiders, beetles, and moths. While foraging, it flies close to the ground, at heights less than 2 m (6.6 ft). It is possibly a prey species of the ghost bat, which is known to consume other bat species in the family Hipposideridae.[4]

Conservation

It is currently evaluated as least concern by the IUCN—its lowest conservation priority.[1] However, it has a more urgent conservation status in Australia. Queensland listed it as endangered under the Nature Conservation Act 1992, while nationally it is listed as vulnerable under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. Conservation and management actions recommended in Australia include preventing roost disturbance and destruction. Additionally, there is a stated need to determine the extent of the species range in Australia, as well as to assess what its requirements are for acceptable roosts.[4]

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References
  1. Armstrong, K.; Aplin, K. (2017). "Hipposideros semoni". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T10160A22102711. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-2.RLTS.T10160A22102711.en.
  2. Van Dyke, S. and Strahan, R. (eds.) (2008) The Mammals of Australia, Third Edition, New Holland / Queensland Museum, Brisbane ISBN 978-1-877069-25-3
  3. Matschie, P. (1903). "Die Chiropteren, Insectivoren und Muriden der Semon'schen Forschungsreise". Denkschriften der Medicinisch-Naturwissenschaftlichen Gesellschaft zu Jena: 774–775.
  4. "Semon's leaf-nosed bat". Department of Environment and Heritage Protection. The State of Queensland (Department of Environment and Heritage Protection) 2012–2018. 12 July 2017. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
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