Rhinolophidae

Introduction

Rhinolophidae is a family of carnivorous and insectivorous bats known from the Old World. The family is divided into two clades, Rhinolophinae and Hipposiderinae. Rhinolophinae currently includes 1 genus and over 60 species (Koopman, 1993). Hipposiderinae is a somewhat more diverse group that includes 9 genera and over 70 extant species (Koopman, 1993).

Characteristics

1. Presence of a well-developed noseleaf.
2. Absence of a tragus.
3. Modifications of the hyoid apperatus, including m. stylohyoideus with a slip that passes deep to digastic muscles, reduction of the ceratohyal to half the length of epihyal, and a large, flat expansion or "foot" on lateral cranial tip of the stylohyal.
4. Modifications of the ribcage, including fusion of at least the first five anterior ribs to the vertebrae, fusion of the second rib to the sternum, costal cartilages absent or ossified, and ribs that lack anterior laminae.
5. Absence of m. omocervicalis absent.
6. Dorsomedial edge of the ascending process of the ilium upturned, flares dorsally above the level of iliosacral articulation, iliac fossa large and well-defined.
7. Articulation between pubes in male restricted to small area, consists of an ossified interpubic ligament or short symphysis.
8. Obtuator foramen patially infilled with thin, bony sheet along posteroventral rim.
9. Gall bladder located in umbilical fissue of liver.
   

Discussion of Phylogenetic Relationships

Many authors recognize Rhinolophinae and Hipposiderinae as separate families, but there is overwhelming evidence that these groups are sister taxa (e.g., Pierson, 1986; Simmons, 1998; Simmons and Geisler, 1998; Kirsch et al., in press). Simmons (1998) and Simmons and Geisler (1998) followed Koopman (1993, 1994) in recognizing Hipposiderinae as a subfamily of Rhinolophidae, a nomenclatural arrangement that provides recognition of both the similarities and differences between these clades. Hipposiderine monophyly is strongly supported by morphological data (Simmons, 1998; Bogdanowicz and Owen, 1998; Hand and Kirsch, 1998) and monophyly of Rhinolophinae is supported by morphology (Bogdanowicz and Owen, 1992; Simmons, 1998) and immunological data (Pierson, 1986).

Geographic Distribution

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The geographical distribution of Rhinolophidae is shown in red. Distribution from Hill and Smith (1984).

Other Names for Rhinolophidae

• Horseshoe Bats

References

Bogdanowicz, W., and R. D. Owen. 1992. Phylogenetic analyses of the bat family Rhinolophidae. Zeitschrift für zoologische Systematik und Evolutionsforschung, 30:142-160.

Bogdanowicz, W., and R. D. Owen. 1998. In the Minotaur's labyrinth: the phylogeny of the bat family Hipposideridae. In Bats: Phylogeny, Morphology, Echolocation, and Conservation Biology. T. H. Kunz and P. A. Racey (eds.). Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press.

Hand, S. J. and J. A. W. Kirsch. 1998. A southern origin for the Hipposideridae (Microchiroptera)? Evidence from the Australian fossil record. In Bats: Phylogeny, Morphology, Echolocation, and Conservation Biology. T. H. Kunz and P. A. Racey (eds.). Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press.

Hill, J.E., and J.D. Smith. 1984. Bats: a natural history. Austin: University of Texas Press.

Koopman, K. F. 1983. Order Chiroptera. In Mammal species of the world, a taxonomic and geographic reference, 2nd ed. D. E. Wilson and D. M. Reeder. Washinton, D. C.: Smithsonian Institution Press.

Koopman, K. F. 1984. Chiroptera: systematics. Handbook of zoology, vol 8, pt. 60. Mammalia, 217 pp.

Pierson, E. D. 1986. Molecular systematics of the Microchiroptera: higher taxon relationships and biogeography. Ph.D. dissertation. University of California, Berkely, California.

Simmons, N. B. 1998. A reappraisal of interfamilial relationships of bats. In Bats: Phylogeny, Morphology, Echolocation and Conservation Biology. T.H. Kunz and P.A. Racey (eds.). Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press.

Simmons, N. B. & J. H. Geisler. 1998. Phylogenetic relationships of Icaronycteris, Archeonycteris, Hassianycteris, and Palaeochiropteryx to extant bat lineages, with comments on the evolution of echolocation and foraging strategies in microchiroptera. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History. 235:1-182.