The Status of Nepal's Mammals: The National Red List Series - IUCN

References
Suwal and Verheugt 1995, Bates and Harrison 1997, Csorba et al. 1999, Molur et al. 2002,
Walston et al. 2008, Giri 2009, Adhikari 2010, Thapa 2010b.
180) Rhinolophus ferrumequinum
(Schreber, 1774)
Common Names
Greater Horseshoe Bat (English); Thulo Ghodnale
Chamero (Nepali)
Synonyms
Vespertilio ferrum-equinum (Shreber, 1774);
Rhinolophus tragatus (Hodgson, 1835); Rhinolophus
brevitarsus (Blyth, 1863); Rhinolophus
ferrum-equinum proximus, Rhinolophus
ferrum-equinum regulus (Andersen, 1905)
Species Description
A medium-sized bat with large ears and a dense,
grey-brown pelage. Sella is narrow, pointed lancet
with concave sides. It can be told apart from the
Intermediate and Rufous Horseshoe Bats only by
the length of the third metacarpal.
Species Ecology
The Greater Horseshoe Bat is found in montane
forests among the mountains and valleys of the
Himalaya. The main diet consists of small insects,
lacewings, small moths, spiders and grasshoppers.
This species breeds during March to May, and after a
gestation period of 72 days a single young is born.
Conservation Status
Global: Least Concern
National: Least Concern
Rationale for assessment: This species is listed as
Least Concern in view of a widespread, abundant
and stable population.
Legal Status
National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 2029
(1973). This species occurs within protected areas.
National Population Size
There is no information available on the population
size of this species in Nepal.
National Distribution
Annapurna Conservation Area (Kaski) and extending
eastward through Langtang National Park (Syabru),
Kathmandu (Nagarjuna Cave in Shivapuri Nagarjun
National Park and Chobhar), Ramechhap and
Sankhuwasabha (Num).
Distribution outside Nepal
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Armenia,
Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Bosnia
and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, China, Croatia, Cyprus,
Czech Republic, France, Georgia, Germany, Gibraltar,
Greece, Hungary, India, Islamic Republic of Iran,
Iraq, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan,
Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea, Republic
of Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Liechtenstein,
Luxembourg, Macedonia, Moldova, Monaco,
Montenegro, Morocco, Pakistan, Palestinian Territory
Occupied, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian
Federation, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Serbia,
Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Syrian Arab
Republic, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan,
Ukraine, United Kingdom, Uzbekistan.
Main Threats
• Habitat fragmentation and loss.
• Increasing use of pesticides in agriculture lands
resulting in declining food source.
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