Morphometric Variability in Horseshoe Bat Species, Rhinolophus ferrumequinum and Rhinolophus lepidus Captured from District Malakand, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Mohammad Salim1, Arshad Javid2,*, Faiz-ur-Rahman3, Khalid Javed Iqbal4 and FarmanUllah5

1Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, University of Haripur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

2Department of Wildlife and Ecology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan

3Department of Zoology, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University (SBBU), Main Campus, Sheringal, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

4Department of Life Sciences, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahwalpur, Punjab, Pakistan

5Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Lasbela University of Agriculture, Water and Marine Sciences, Uthal, Balochistan, Pakistan

ABSTRACT

Specimens of Rhinilophus ferrumequinum (n = 2) and R. lepidus (n =3) were captured from Malakand district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during a three years survey extending from June 2010 through May 2013. Mean body mass of the captured R. ferrumequinum specimens was 18.45 ± 0.35 g, head and body length was 60.11 ± 1.42 mm and forearm length was 60.01 ± 1.41 mm. Similarly, average greatest length of skull was 23.35 ± 0.20 mm while the total length of baculum of a single specimen was recorded 4.13 mm. The mean body mass, head and body length and forearm length of the R. lepidus specimens captured from the study area was 3.93 ± 0.21 g, 38.49 ± 0.54 mm and 38.02 ± 0.63 mm, respectively. Average greatest length of skull of two specimens was 15.94 ± 0.15 mm while their baculum was 2.33 ± 0.14 mm long.

Article Information

Received 03 August 2016

Revised 12 February 2017

Accepted 28 February 2017

Available online 09 June 2017

Authors’ Contribution

This manuscript is part of PhD Thesis of MS. He collected and analyzed the data and prepared the document. AJ designed and supervised the entire work. FR assisted in surveys to different areas of Malakand. KJI helped in lab work regarding preparation of skull and bacula. FU Assisted in collection of bat samples.

Key words

Horseshoe bat, Baculum, R. lepidus, Malakand, Abbottabad.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17582/journal.pjz/2017.49.4.1151.1157

* Corresponding author: arshadjavid@gmail.com

0030-9923/2017/0004-1151 $ 9.00/0

Copyright 2017 Zoological Society of Pakistan

INTRODUCTION

The genus Rhinolophus Lacepede, 1799 has 76 species worldwide of which sixteen species exist in the Indian subcontinent while five have been recorded from Pakistan which include greater horseshoe bat R. ferrumequinum Schreber, 1774, the lesser horseshoe bat R. hipposideros Bechstein, 1800, the Blasius horseshoe bat R. blasii Peters, 1866, the Blyth’s horseshoe bat R. lepidus Blyth, 1844 and the big-eared horseshoe bat R. macrotis Blyth, 1844 (Roberts, 1997; Bates and Harrison, 1997; Simmons, 2005).

R. ferrumequinum is widely distributed in northern Himalayan region and extends southwards through the mountains of Waziristan and northern Balochistan. This bat seems to be rare in southern Balochistan because of the lesser supply of suitable insect prey and very dry climate which is unfavorable to the family Rhinolophidae (Roberts, 1997). Specimens have been collected from around Dir town (USNM), Abbotabad (HZM), Karakar pass (FMNH), Gilgit (Bates and Harrison, 1997) and Kululai in Swat (Roberts, 1997). These larger greyer specimens have been assigned to the subspecies R. f. proximus (Roberts, 1997). Small colonies found in Balochistan near Kalat, Nushki and Quetta have been assigned to R. f. irani (Mirza, 1965; Bates and Harrison, 1997). The greater horseshoe bat is considered to be Least Concerned worldwide (IUCN, 2008; Mahmood-ul-Hassan et al., 2009) and Near Threatened in South Asia (South Asian Chiroptera C.A.M.P. Report, 2002; Walker and Molur, 2003; IUCN, 2008).

R. lepidus in Pakistan was captured together with R. macrotis during October 1985 near Abbotabad from an elevation of 1280m in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan (Roberts 1997; Bates and Harrison, 1997). The species has also been collected from Afghanistan (Corbet and Hill, 1992) and in the dryer parts of Rajasthan, India (Sinha, 1980). Population status of R. lepidus in Pakistan is unknown (Roberts, 1997).

In Pakistan, the bats are amongst the least studied group of animals. Present survey was therefore planned to ascertain the presence or absence of Rhinolophus species from Malakand district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Study area

District Malakand owns variety of habitat types ranging from plain to mountainous areas. River Swat is the natural water body that irrigates cultivable areas in the district. Other sources include water tanks, tube wells and lift pumps. The climate is moderately cool in winter and pleasant in summer, hottest months are June, July and August. The maximum temperature during summer reaches 41 °C and minimum during winter reaches -2 °C. Rose and tulips are wildly grown. Main plant species in Malakand include Bakain (Melia azerdarach), Shesham (Dalbergia sissoo), Persian walnut (Juglans regia), figs (Ficus carica), phulai or Paloosa (Acacia modesta), white mulberry (Morus alba) black mulberry (Morus nigra) chilgoza pine (Pinus gerardiana) blue gum (Eucalptus globulus) Persian poplar (Populus caspica) and chinar (Platanus orientalis) are grown in hilly as well as in plain areas. The common wild animals found in the area are jackal, deer, leopard, monkey and wolf. The wild fauna includes the markhor (Capra falconeri), the collared pika (Ochotona rufescens), the migratory hamster (Cricetulus migratorius), the stone marten (Martes foina), the forest dormouse (Dryomys nitedula), Persian jird (Meriones persicus) and the mouse-like hamster (Calomyscus bailwardi). The livestock animals in the district are buffalo, cow, sheep, goat, camel, horse, ass and poultry.

Sampling strategy

Bats were trapped over duration of three years (2010-2013) on their roosting and foraging grounds using hand net and mist nets at randomly preselected points within Malakand district. Sampling stations were decided based on a pilot study designed to assess the species composition in a variety of habitats. Mist nets of 12 m, 9 m and 6 m size were erected at 10 to 50 m intervals along trails and water bodies, and were monitored for three hours depending on weather and bats’ activities.

Table I.- Comparison of mean body mass (g), external body, cranial (n = 2) and bacular (n = 1) measurements (mm) of Rhinolophus ferrumequinum (n = 2) captured from Loya Agra in Malakand district with previous studies from South Asia.

The nets used throughout the survey were the same and were opened simultaneously at sunset each evening. On either side of the mist net torches were positioned to illuminate bats approaching from either side of the net. Bats were removed and placed in cloth bags (made with a breathable material), and each bat was weighted (g) with a digital scale. The external body, cranial and bacular measurements were taken with a digital vernier caliper (Bates and Harrison, 1997; Javid, 2011).

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

During present survey, a colony of 46 Rhinolophus ferrumequinum was observed in a cave at Loya Agra tehsil Batkhela in Malakand district (Fig. 1) and two of them were captured through hand net. The length of cave was 40 ft, width of cave opening 4 ft, width of cave middle 8 ft while height of the cave was 7 ft. The captured specimens had a woolly fur, doom shaped head and curved ears that had no tragus. The outer margins of the ears however were curved round to form a prominent antitragus. The muzzle of the bat was well covered with hairs. The wings were delicate, short and rounded in outline. A well-developed interfemoral membrane is supported by calcars which have no lobe of skin beneath them. The front and side view of the nose leaf show that horseshoe apparatus is broad, sella is small and the superior connecting process is broadly triangular in these bats (Fig. 1). The inferior extremity is bluntly rounded and lancet is equilateral triangular in shape. The mean body mass of two R. ferrumequinum was 18.45 ± 0.35 g, their head and body length was 60.11 ± 1.42 mm while their ear was 20.62 ± 0.70 mm long. Mean thumb with claw and forearm length was 4.01 ± 0.01 mm and 60.01 ± 1.41 mm, respectively. Average length of 2nd metacarpal was 39.56 ± 3.47 mm, length of 3rd metacarpal was 40.07 ± 1.34 mm, length of 4th metacarpal was 43.62 ± 0.57 mm while average length of 5th metacarpal was 45.66 ± 0.64 mm. Average wingspan and calcar length was 359.00 ± 1.41 mm and 6.51 ± 0.69 mm, respectively. Their tibia, tail and hind foot lengths were 26.06 ± 1.34 mm, 34.60 ± 0.71 mm and 12.11 ± 8.56 mm, respectively (Table I).

Average greatest length of skull (n = 2) of R. ferrumequinum specimens (Fig. 1) was 23.35 ± 0.20 mm, breadth of braincase 9.69 ± 0.23 mm and zygomatic bone of the two specimens was 12.15 ± 0.12 mm long. The postorbital constriction was 2.98 ± 0.02 mm, condylo-canine length was 20.78 ± 0.05 mm while anterior and posterior palatal widths were 6.31 ± 0.01 mm and 8.73 ± 0.14 mm, respectively. The maxillary toothrow length, mandibular toothrow length and mandible length was 9.18 ± 0.02 mm, 9.86 ± 0.01 mm and 16.33 ± 0.13 mm, respectively.

Total baculum length of a single R. ferrumequinum specimen was 4.13 mm, width of proximal tip 0.33 mm, width of middle extreme 0.80 mm, width of distal extreme 1.13 mm while baculam height was recorded 0.83 mm (Table I, Fig. 2).

Specimens (n = 3) of Rhinolophus lepidus were captured from Malakand University in Malakand district through mist nets during present survey. The horseshoe in this species is 6.0-8.0 mm broad and does not cover the whole muzzle (Fig. 3). The sella is generally narrow. The lancet is well developed. The pelage color is typically grey brown dorsally and slightly pale ventrally. Average body mass, head and body length and ear of three Blyth’s horseshoe bat was 3.93 ± 0.21 g, 38.49 ± 0.54 mm and 14.80 ± 0.27 mm, respectively. The mean thumb with claw length and forearm length was 3.87 ± 0.13 mm and 38.02 ± 0.63 mm, respectively (Table II). The length of 2nd metacarpal, 3rd metacarpal, 4th metacarpal and 5th metacarpal was 27.98 ± 0.76 mm, 28.21 ± 0.01 mm, 29.61 ± 0.01 mm and 29.43 ± 0.01 mm, respectively. Average wingspan, tibia, calcar, hind foot and tail length was 232.67 ± 1.15 mm, 15.83 ± 0.67 mm, 8.67 ± 0.58 mm, 7.86 ± 0.28 mm and 18.96 ± 3.24 mm, respectively (Table II).

The mean greatest length of skull (Fig. 3) of R. lepidus specimens (n = 2) captured from University of Malakand was 15.94 ± 0.15 mm, breadth of braincase 6.76 ± 0.06 mm, zygomatic bone 7.61 ± 0.01 mm, post-orbital constriction 2.34 ± 0.01 mm and condylo-canine length was 13.90 ± 0.08 mm. Anterior and posterior palatal width was 3.73 ± 0.01 mm and 5.72 ± 0.01 mm, respectively. The maxillary toothrow length, mandibular toothrow length and mandible length was 5.86 ± 0.02 mm, 6.57 ± 0.64 mm and 10.34 ± 0.04 mm, respectively (Table II). The mean total baculum length, width of proximal extreme, shaft length, width of middle extreme, width of distal extreme and baculum height of R. lepidus (n = 2) was 2.33 ± 0.14 mm, 0.01 ± 0.00 mm, 2.16 ± 0.12 mm, 0.01 ± 0.00 mm, 0.49 ± 0.05 mm and 0.55 ± 0.00 mm, respectively (Table II, Fig. 4).

Table II.- Comparison of average body mass (g), external body (n = 3), cranial and bacular (n = 2) measurements (mm) of Rhinolophus lepidus (n = 3) captured from Malakand district with previous study from in South Asia.

Prior to the present study, R. ferrumequinum was reported from Gilgit, Kululai in Swat, Kohistan, Dir, Abbotabad and Karakar Pass (Roberts 1997; Bates and Harrison, 1997) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK). In Baluchistan, the species has so far only been collected from Kalat and Nushki (Mirza, 1965). The first specimen of R. lepidus was captured in mid-Octuber 1985 from Abbotabad (Corbet and Hill, 1992; Roberts 1997; Bates and Harrison, 1997) in KPK. The species was reported from Gujranwala in Punjab province (Shahbaz et al., 2014).

Conclusion

Rhinolophus lepidus was reported only from Abbottabad in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gujranwala in Punjab province prior to the present study. During present survey, the species were recorded from Malakand for the first time. R. ferrumequinum was already reported from the study area however, both the congeners can be differentiated from one another on the basis of forearm length, which is longer in R. ferrumequinum and bacular features.

Statement of conflict of interest

Authors have declared no conflict of interest.

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