Identification:
The dorsal fur is dark brown, with the tips of the hairs being lighter than the shafts and bases. The ventral fur is smoky gray. The chin and chest are pale gray. The ears are large and funnel-shaped. The tragus is tall, narrow, with nearly parallel edges and a rounded tip. The sella is very tall and has a rounded apex. The inferior lobe is low and underdeveloped.
Biology and Ecology:
This bat species typically lives in colonies, roosting under tree canopies, in caves, and rock crevices. They forage by hunting insects around large trees, thickets, and along trails.
Distribution:
- Within Vietnam: Lào Cai, Tuyên Quang, Lạng Sơn and Bắc Kạn, Ninh Bình, Quảng Bình.
- Worldwide: Northeastern Thailand.
Value:
This is a rare bat species, endemic to Southeast Asia, only recorded in Vietnam and northeastern Thailand.
Conservation Status:
Although the species has a relatively wide distribution and is present in many areas, its population numbers are very low. Surveys in 2001 documented its presence in Kim Hỷ, Bắc Kạn.
IUCN Red List Assessment: VU (Vulnerable)
Conservation Measures:
It is included in the Vietnam Red Book (2000) and the IUCN Red List (2000). Hunting of bats in the cave systems of Kim Hỷ and other areas where this species has been recorded needs to be prevented.