Hills' horseshoe bat

For the species endemic to Rwanda called Hill's horseshoe bat, see Rhinolophus hilli.

The Hills' horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus hillorum) is a species of bat in the family Rhinolophidae. It is found in Cameroon, Guinea, Liberia, and Nigeria. Its natural habitats are subtropical and tropical moist lowland and montane forest, caves and other subterranean habitats.

Hills' horseshoe bat
Conservation status
Vulnerable  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Chiroptera
Family:	Rhinolophidae
Genus:	Rhinolophus
Species:	R. hillorum
Binomial name
Rhinolophus hillorum Koopman, 1989
Hill's horseshoe bat range

Taxonomy

Hills' horseshoe bat was first described as a new subspecies of Geoffroy's horseshoe bat with a trinomen of Rhinolophus clivosus hillorum in 1989. The holotype had been collected near Voinjama, Liberia. It was first recognized as a full species in 2002.^[2] The eponyms for the species name "hillorum" were the unrelated mammalogists John Eric Hill and John Edwards Hill.^[3]

Description

Hills' horseshoe bat has a forearm length of 52–57 mm (2.0–2.2 in), and individuals weigh 16.5–25 g (0.58–0.88 oz). It has a dental formula of 1.1.1.32.1.2.3 for a total of 28 teeth.^[2]

Range and habitat

Hills' horseshoe bat is found in Western and Central Africa, where it has been confirmed in Cameroon, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria. Its presence is possible yet unconfirmed in Uganda as of 2010.^[1]

Conservation

As of 2022, it is evaluated as vulnerable by the IUCN. It meets the criteria for this classification because it is experiencing habitat destruction. Its extent of occurrence is likely less than 20,000 km² (7,700 sq mi). It likely has a small population size which is also declining. Specific threats this species faces include mining, quarrying, deforestation, and hunting.^[1]

References

1. Obitte, B.; Tanshi, I. (2022). "Rhinolophus hillorum". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2022: e.T44782A203829273. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
2. Fahr, J. (2013). Kingdon, J.; Happold, D.; Butynski, T.; Hoffmann, M.; Happold, M.; Kalina, J. (eds.). Mammals of Africa. Vol. 4. A&C Black. pp. 336–337. ISBN 9781408189962.
3. Beolens, B.; Watkins, M.; Grayson, M. (2009). The eponym dictionary of mammals. JHU Press. pp. 189–190. ISBN 9780801895333.