Large Asian Roundleaf Bat

Fascinating facts about the Large Asian Roundleaf Bat

• A 1974 paper by Thonglongya and Hill described a new bat species based on a specimen collected in 1972 in Thailand’s Kaeng Khoi District.
• Its ears are broad, large, and triangular, and its nose-leaf has intermediate, anterior, and posterior leaflets.
• First recorded in Thailand in 1972, the species was only added to the Philippine list in 1992, expanding its known range to include Peninsular Malaysia and elevations from 50 to 400 m (160–1,310 ft). This gradual mapping shows how field surveys can dramatically alter perceived distribution patterns.
• The large Asian roundleaf bat is listed as near-threatened by the IUCN as of 2019.

At a glance

About the Large Asian Roundleaf Bat

The large Asian roundleaf bat, Hipposideros lekaguli, has a forearm length of 66.5–79.3 mm and broad, large, triangular ears. Its nose-leaf is complexly foliated with intermediate, anterior, and posterior leaflets. It was described as a new species in 1974 from a specimen collected in Thailand’s Kaeng Khoi District and is named after Thai zoologist Boonsong Lekagul. The species is found in Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand, at elevations of 50–400 m, and is listed as near-threatened by the IUCN.

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