Acta Zoologica Cracoviensia, 42(3) 1999

Issue:

VOL 42(3) 1999

Keywords:

Rhinolophidae, variation, diagnostics, distribution, protection

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Taxonomy, biogeography and abundance of the horseshoe bats in Eastern Europe

• Igor V. ZAGORODNIUK

Abstract:

The family Rhinolophidae is represented in Eastern Europe by three rare species of Rhinolophus, namely R. ferrumequinum (RF), R. hipposideros (RH) and R. euryale (RE). A total of 275 collected specimens are represented by 187 RF, 87 RH and 1 RE? (coming from Crimea). All species have clearly distinct body and skull measurements (forearm 52-57 mm in RF, 48 in RE, 35-40 in RH) and distinctive sound frequencies (80-85 kHz in RF and 110-115 in RF). Differences between geographic samples of each species are not significant, and most expressed in a pair of Carpathian and Crimean RH (external fea­tures) and RF (skull dimensions). Detailed description of species ranges are presented by their marginal localities, and all the questionable records are discussed. During the 20^th century their share in total bat samples continuously changed: a decrease in RF (32.8 to 4.7%; category “endangered”) and an increase in RH (1.9 to 11.2%, category “ lower risk”).