Identification:
Medium-sized bats, with a body length of 60 – 80 mm, tail length of 35 – 45 mm, forearm length of 53 – 67 mm, ear length of 20 – 23 mm, foot length of 10 – 15 mm, skull length of 18.5 – 12.5 mm, zygomatic arch width of 11.5 – 12.9 mm, mandible length of 8 – 9 mm. Upper canines lack grooves and possess a small cusp on the posterior side. The noseleaf has three lateral accessory leaflets forming a V-shape, with a central ridge on the anterior noseleaf. The nasal region is not flattened. The supraorbital ridge is not prominent. The tongue does not extend beyond the palate. The dorsal fur color ranges from grayish-brown to reddish-brown, while the ventral fur is lighter. Males have grayish-brown fur, and females have rusty-colored fur.
Biology and Ecology:
This species lives in colonies of thousands of individuals, roosting on cave ceilings and producing thick layers of guano. They typically roost in caves and tunnels. Their diet consists of mosquitoes and other insects.
Distribution:
- Vietnam: Found in Lai Châu (Mường Muôn), Cao Bằng (Trùng Khánh), Hòa Bình (Chi Nê, Ngọc Tân), Quảng Ninh (Ha Long Bay), Quảng Nam – Đà Nẵng (Sơn Trà), Khánh Hòa (Nha Trang), Vũng Tàu – Côn Đảo (Côn Sơn), and Kiên Giang (Phú Quốc).
- Worldwide: Found in India, Myanmar, China (Hainan), Indochina, and Indonesia.
Value:
This is a rare species with value for scientific research, aesthetics, and the control of harmful insects in nature.