Guinean horseshoe bat


The Guinean horseshoe bat is a species of bat in the family Rhinolophidae. It is found in Ivory Coast, Guinea, Liberia, Senegal, and Sierra Leone. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forest, subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest, subtropical or tropical moist montane forest, moist savanna, caves, and subterranean habitats. It is threatened by habitat loss.

Taxonomy and etymology

It was described by M. Eisentraut in 1960 as a new subspecies of the Lander's horseshoe bat with a trinomen of Rhinolophus landeri guineensis.
The holotype was collected near Kolenté, Guinea.
In 1978, it was elevated to full species status.

Description

It is considered "medium-sized" for an African horseshoe bat.
Its forearm length is and individuals weigh.
Its dental formula is for a total of 32 teeth.

Range and habitat

Its range includes several countries in West Africa such as Ivory Coast, Guinea, Liberia, Senegal, and Sierra Leone.
It is found in high elevations greater than above sea level.

Conservation

As of 2008, it is listed as an endangered species by the IUCN.
It meets the criteria for this assessment because its area of occupancy is likely smaller than ; its habitat is highly fragmented; and there is ongoing and predicted degradation of its caves and forests.