Cox's roundleaf bat
Cox's roundleaf bat or Cox's leaf-nosed bat is a species of bat in the family Hipposideridae. It is endemic to Borneo. All confirmed records are from Sarawak, but it might also occur in Kalimantan.
Taxonomy
Cox's roundleaf bat was described as a new species in 1901 by British naturalist Robert W. C. Shelford. The holotype had been collected in Mount Penrisen in the Malaysian state of Sarawak, which is on the island of Borneo. It had been collected by E. A. W. Cox, whom Shelford honored with the eponym coxi.
Description
Cox's roundleaf bat is considered a medium-sized member of its genus. It can be differentiated from other hipposiderids in Borneo by its particularly large noseleaf, which entirely covers the muzzle. Its ears are also large. The ears, noseleaf, wings, and back are all dark brown, with its belly fur somewhat paler. The forearm measures and individuals weigh.
Biology and ecology
During the day, it roosts in caves in small colonies of typically twenty or fewer individuals. It is insectivorous, consuming at least seven different orders of insects: Coleoptera, Diptera, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera, Odonata, and Trichoptera.
Cox's roundleaf bat is endemic to Malaysia and has only been documented on the island of Borneo.
Conservation
As of 2016, it is evaluated as an endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. It meets the criteria for this designation due to its small area of occupancy, measuring less than. Its suitable habitat is highly fragmented and likely declining in quality and extent. It is threatened by cave disturbance, including humans entering caves to harvest the nests of the edible-nest swiftlet, as well as mining and quarrying.