**2.5. Family Hipposideridae**

worldwide of which 16 species exist in the Indian subcontinent and five have been recorded in Pakistan. These five species include the 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 [2, 13, 14]. This family is distributed from southern England to Caucasus, Iran, Pakistan, India, China, Japan, Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia. It is considered to be a monogeneric group [12]. The reater horseshoe bat is Least Concerned worldwide [15, 17] and Near Threatened in South Asia (South Asian Chiroptera C.A.M.P. Report,

Rhinolophidae bats are easily distinguished from the rest of bat families based on a prominent horseshoe-shaped nose leaf apparatus. Two species of this family were recorded from Malakand division. These included the greater horseshoe bat *Rhinolophus ferrumequinum*

*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 [2]. Specimens have been collected from around Dir town (USNM), Abbotabad (HZM), Karakar pass (FMNH), Gilgit (type loc. of *proximus*) [13], and Kululai in Swat [2]. These larger greyer specimens have been assigned to the subspecies *R. f. proximus* [2]. Small colonies found in Balochistan near Kalat, Nushki, and

A total of 46 bats were recorded roosting in a cave at Loya Agra (N34° 34.868′ E71° 43.114′)

This species is a new record for Pakistan. The first specimen was captured by Mrs. Nora Pendleton from a phosphate mine near Abbottabad [2, 13]. The species has also been collected from Afghanistan [12] and in the dryer parts of Rajasthan, India [9], so the status of this species is unknown in Pakistan [2]. IUCN 2003 and IUCN/SSC Action Plan (2001) declare this species to be Data Deficient. It was in the lower risk (LR/IC) category according to IUCN 2007 report and is a chiropteran of Least Concern according to IUCN [17] Red List of Threatened

*Rhinolophus lepidus shortridgei* found in South Asia differs from *R. l. lepidus* in having a longer

Bates [13] collected specimens of *R. lepidus* from Nepal, India, and Pakistan. Three bats were captured through mist net in Malakand University (N34° 40.054′ E72° 03.653′) in Malakand district. Fifty specimens of the Blyth's horseshoe bat (*Rhinolophus lepidus*) were collected from Fizaghat Kaan (N34° 47′ 24.42′′ E 72° 22′22.16′′) elevation 3105 ft., Nalai Kaan

hind foot (55–63% of the tibia, against 45.8–47.5%) and longer mandible [47].

(Schreber, 1774) and Blyth's horseshoe bat *Rhinolophus lepidus* (Blyth, 1844).

*2.4.1. The greater horseshoe bat Rhinolophus ferrumequinum (Schreber, 1774)*

Quetta have been assigned to *R. f. irani* [13, 46].

*2.4.2. Blyth's horseshoe bat Rhinolophus lepidus (Blyth, 1844)*

tehsil Batkhela in Malakand district.

Animals and C.A.M.P. Report, 2002.

2002; [16, 17].

88 Bats
