''Hipposideros'' is one of the most diverse

genera Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family as used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In binomial nomenclature, the genus name forms the first part of the binomial s ...

bat Bats are flying mammals of the order Chiroptera (). With their forelimbs adapted as wings, they are the only mammals capable of true and sustained flight. Bats are more agile in flight than most birds, flying with their very long spread-out ...

s, with more than 70 species. They are collectively called roundleaf bats after the shape of their nasal ornament. It is the

type genus In biological taxonomy, the type genus (''genus typica'') is the genus which defines a biological family and the root of the family name. Zoological nomenclature According to the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, "The name-bearin ...

of the family

Hipposideridae The Hipposideridae are a family (biology), family of bats commonly known as the Old World leaf-nosed bats. While it has often been seen as a subfamily, Hipposiderinae, of the family Rhinolophidae, it is now more generally classified as its own fa ...

. It is divided into species groups based on

morphology Morphology, from the Greek and meaning "study of shape", may refer to: Disciplines *Morphology (archaeology), study of the shapes or forms of artifacts *Morphology (astronomy), study of the shape of astronomical objects such as nebulae, galaxies, ...

. Some species that were previously placed in ''Hipposideros'' are now placed in the related genera ''

Doryrhina ''Doryrhina'' is a genus of bats belonging to the family Hipposideridae. The best known species, '' Doryrhina cyclops'', was long placed in the diverse genus ''Hipposideros'', but a 2017 study found that it did not form a monophyletic group with ...

'' and ''

Macronycteris ''Macronycteris'' is a genus of bats belonging to the family Hipposideridae The Hipposideridae are a family (biology), family of bats commonly known as the Old World leaf-nosed bats. While it has often been seen as a subfamily, Hipposiderinae, ...

''. Conversely, the genus ''Paracoelops'', which was considered distinct until 2012, is now synonymized with ''Hipposideros'', as the only species turned out to be based on a specimen of '' Hipposideros pomona''.

Species

''armiger'' species group

Great roundleaf bat The great roundleaf bat, also known as the great Himalayan leaf-nosed bat (''Hipposideros armiger'') is a species of bat in the family Hipposideridae found in South Asia, Southeast Asia, and China. It gives birth to two young a year. It has been ...

, ''H. armiger'' *

Ha Long roundleaf bat ''Hipposideros alongensis'', known as the Ha Long leaf-nosed bat, is a species of bat in the family Hipposideridae. It is endemic to Vietnam. It is listed as a vulnerable species by the IUCN. Taxonomy The species was formerly known as a subspe ...

, ''H. alongensis'' *

Pendlebury's roundleaf bat Pendlebury's roundleaf bat (''Hipposideros pendleburyi'') is a species of bat in the family Hipposideridae. It was previously considered a subspecies of '' H. turpis'', but has now been raised to full species level. It is endemic to Thailand and ...

, ''H. pendlebury'' *

Lesser great leaf-nosed bat The lesser great leaf-nosed bat or lesser roundleaf bat (''Hipposideros turpis'') is a species of bat in the family Hipposideridae. It is found in Japan. Its natural habitat is temperate forests. Human interference has caused rapid habitat destru ...

, ''H. turpis''

''bicolor'' species group

Dusky leaf-nosed bat The dusky leaf-nosed bat (''Hipposideros ater'') is a bat from the genus ''Hipposideros'' whose habitat extends from India and Sri Lanka to the Philippines, New Guinea and Northern Australia. This species is counted in the '' H. bicolor'' species ...

, ''H. ater'' * Benito roundleaf bat, ''H. beatus'' *

Bicolored roundleaf bat The bicolored roundleaf bat (''Hipposideros bicolor'') is a species of bat in the family Hipposideridae found in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Thailand, and Timor-Leste. This bat inhabits caves, rock crevices and tunnels among ...

, ''H. bicolor'' *''

Hipposideros brachyotus ''Hipposideros'' is one of the most diverse genera of bats, with more than 70 species. They are collectively called roundleaf bats after the shape of their nasal ornament. It is the type genus of the family Hipposideridae. It is divided into spe ...

'' * Short-headed roundleaf bat, ''H. breviceps'' *

Sundevall's roundleaf bat Sundevall's roundleaf bat (''Hipposideros caffer''), also called Sundevall's leaf-nosed bat, is a species of bat in the family Hipposideridae. These bats are very similar in appearance to the closely related Noack's roundleaf bat, and the two hav ...

, ''H. caffer'' *

Spurred roundleaf bat The spurred roundleaf bat (''Hipposideros calcaratus'') is a species of bat in the family Hipposideridae. It is found in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands Solomon Islands, also known simply as the Solomons,John Prados, ''Islands of ...

, ''H. calcaratus'' *

Fawn leaf-nosed bat The fawn leaf-nosed bat (''Hipposideros cervinus'') is a species of bat in the family Hipposideridae found in Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vanuatu. Taxonomy The species was first described by John Gould in his Mammals of ...

, ''H. cervinus'' *

Ashy roundleaf bat The ashy roundleaf bat (''Hipposideros cineraceus'') is a species of bat in the family Hipposideridae found in Bhutan, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Thailand, and Vietnam. Taxonomy and etymology It was ...

, ''H. cineraceus'' *

Large Mindanao roundleaf bat The large Mindanao roundleaf bat (''Hipposideros coronatus'') is a species of bat in the family Hipposideridae endemic to the Philippines The Philippines, officially the Republic of the Philippines, is an Archipelagic state, archipelagic ...

, ''H. coronatus'' *

Cox's roundleaf bat Cox's roundleaf bat or Cox's leaf-nosed bat (''Hipposideros coxi'') is a species of bat in the family Hipposideridae. It is endemic to Borneo. All confirmed records are from Sarawak (Malaysia), but it might also occur in Kalimantan Kalimantan ( ...

, ''H. coxi'' *

Timor roundleaf bat The Timor roundleaf bat (''Hipposideros crumeniferus'') is a species of bat in the family Hipposideridae. It is endemic to Indonesia Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania, between the ...

, ''H. crumeniferus'' *

Short-tailed roundleaf bat The short-tailed roundleaf bat (''Hipposideros curtus'') is a species of bat in the family Hipposideridae. It is found in Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and caves. It is thre ...

, ''H. curtus'' *

Borneo roundleaf bat The Borneo roundleaf bat or Bornean leaf-nosed bat (''Hipposideros doriae'') is a species of bat in the family Hipposideridae. It is found in Borneo, Sumatra and Peninsular Malaysia. ''Hipposideros sabanus'' is a synonym of this species. Taxonom ...

, ''H. doriae'' *

Khajuria's leaf-nosed bat Khajuria's leaf-nosed bat (''Hipposideros durgadasi''), also known as Durga Das's leaf-nosed bat, is a species of bat in the family Hipposideridae. It is endemic to India. Its natural habitat is caves. It is threatened by habitat loss. Taxonomy ...

, ''H. durgadasi'' *

Dayak roundleaf bat The Dayak roundleaf bat (''Hipposideros dyacorum''), also known as the least roundleaf bat, is a species of bat in the family Hipposideridae. It is endemic to Indonesia and Malaysia. Taxonomy The Dayak roundleaf bat was described as a new speci ...

, ''H. dyacorum'' *

Sooty roundleaf bat The sooty roundleaf bat (''Hipposideros fuliginosus'') is a species of bat in the family Hipposideridae. It is found in Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Uganda. Its ...

, ''H. fuliginosus'' *

Fulvus roundleaf bat The fulvus roundleaf bat or fulvus leaf-nosed bat (''Hipposideros fulvus'') is a species of bat in the family Hipposideridae. It is found in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, China, India, Myanmar, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Taxonomy The fulvus roundleaf b ...

, ''H. fulvus'' * Cantor's roundleaf bat, ''H. galeritus'' *Andersen’s roundleaf bat, '' H. gentilis'' * Thailand roundleaf bat, ''H. halophyllus'' * Kolar leaf-nosed bat, ''H. hypophyllus'' *

Jones's roundleaf bat Jones's roundleaf bat (''Hipposideros jonesi'') is a species of bat in the family Hipposideridae. It is endemic to southern West Africa. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forest, savanna, subtropical or tropical dry lowland gr ...

, ''H. jonesi'' * Phou Khao Khouay leaf-nosed bat, ''H. khaokhouayensis'' *''

Hipposideros kingstonae ''Hipposideros kingstonae'' is a species of bat in the family Hipposideridae. First described in 2023, it was named after Tigga Kingston in honor of her work for bat conversation in Southeast Asia. It is securely known from far southern Thailand, ...

'' *''

Hipposideros kunzi ''Hipposideros kunzi'' is a species of bat in the family Hipposideridae. First described in 2018, it was named after Thomas Kunz in honor of his work on bat research and conservation. It is known from Peninsular Malaysia and the nearby southern ...

'' *

Lamotte's roundleaf bat Lamotte's roundleaf bat (''Hipposideros lamottei'') is a species of bat found only at Mount Nimba on the border of Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea and Liberia. It is critically endangered. Taxonomy It was described as a new species in 1984 by French zo ...

, ''H. lamottei'' * Big-eared roundleaf bat, ''H. macrobullatus'' * Maggie Taylor's roundleaf bat, ''H. maggietaylorae'' *

Aellen's roundleaf bat Aellen's roundleaf bat (''Hipposideros marisae'') is a species of bat in the family Hipposideridae. It is found in Ivory Coast, Guinea, and Liberia. Its natural habitats are subtropical and tropical forests and caves. Taxonomy and etymology It wa ...

, ''H. marisae'' * Malayan roundleaf bat, ''H. nequam'' *

Nicobar leaf-nosed bat The Nicobar leaf-nosed bat (''Hipposideros nicobarulae'') is an endangered species of bat endemic to the Nicobar Islands. Taxonomy The Nicobar leaf-nosed bat was described as a new species in 1902 by Gerrit Smith Miller Jr.. The holotype had b ...

, ''H. nicobarulae'' *

Philippine forest roundleaf bat The Philippine forest roundleaf bat (''Hipposideros obscurus'') is a species of bat in the family Hipposideridae. It is endemic to the Philippines. Taxonomy and etymology It was described as a new species in 1861 by German naturalist Wilhelm Pe ...

, ''H. obscurus'' * Orbiculus leaf-nosed bat, ''H. orbiculus'' * Biak roundleaf bat, ''H. papua'' *

Pomona roundleaf bat The Pomona roundleaf bat, Pomona leaf-nosed bat, or Andersen's leaf-nosed bat (''Hipposideros pomona'') is a species of bat in the family Hipposideridae that is endemic to India. Taxonomy It was described as a new species in 1918 by Danish mam ...

, ''H. pomona'' * Philippine pygmy roundleaf bat, ''H. pygmaeus'' * Ridley's leaf-nosed bat, ''H. ridleyi'' * Laotian leaf-nosed bat, ''H. rotalis'' *

Noack's roundleaf bat Noack's roundleaf bat (''Hipposideros ruber'') is a species of bat in the family Hipposideridae. It is found throughout tropical Africa. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, moist savanna, and caves and other sub ...

, ''H. ruber'' *''

Hipposideros srilankaensis ''Hipposideros srilankaensis'' is a 2025 identified nose-leaf, leaf-nosed bat species endemic to Sri Lanka. Previously classified under ''Hipposideros galeritus'', it was reclassified based on morphological, genetic, and echolocation call analys ...

''cyclops'' species group

This group no longer includes the cyclops roundleaf bat (''Doryrhina cyclops''), which is now placed in the separate genus ''Doryrhina''. * Telefomin roundleaf bat, ''H. corynophyllus'' * Hill's roundleaf bat, ''H. edwardshilli'' * Fly River roundleaf bat, ''H. muscinus'' *

Semon's roundleaf bat Semon's leaf-nosed bat or Semon's roundleaf bat (''Hipposideros semoni'') is a species of bat in the family Hipposideridae.Van Dyke, S. and Strahan, R. (eds.) (2008) ''The Mammals of Australia'', Third Edition, New Holland / Queensland Museum, Bri ...

, ''H. semoni'' * Northern leaf-nosed bat or narrow-eared roundleaf bat, ''H. stenotis''

''diadema'' species group

* Makira roundleaf bat, ''H. demissus'' * Diadem roundleaf bat, ''H. diadema'' * Fierce roundleaf bat, ''H. dinops'' * Crested roundleaf bat, ''H. inexpectatus'' * Arnhem leaf-nosed bat, ''H. inornatus'' * Indian roundleaf bat, ''H. lankadiva'' * Large Asian roundleaf bat, ''H. lekaguli'' * Peleng leaf-nosed bat, ''H. pelingensis''

''larvatus'' species group

* Grand roundleaf bat, ''H. grandis'' * Intermediate roundleaf bat, ''H. larvatus'' * Maduran leaf-nosed bat, ''H. madurae'' * Sorensen's leaf-nosed bat, ''H. sorenseni'' * Sumba roundleaf bat or Sumban leaf-nosed bat, ''H. sumbae''

''megalotis'' species group

* Ethiopian large-eared roundleaf bat, ''H. megalotis''

''pratti'' species group

Shield-faced roundleaf bat The shield-faced roundleaf bat (''Hipposideros lylei'') is a species of bat in the family Hipposideridae. It is found in China, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam Vietnam, officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (SRV), i ...

, ''H. lylei'' *

Pratt's roundleaf bat Pratt's roundleaf bat (''Hipposideros pratti'') is a species of bat in the family Hipposideridae. It is found in China, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. Taxonomy and etymology It was described as a new species in 1891 by British zoologi ...

, ''H. pratti'' * Swinhoe's roundleaf bat, ''H. swinhoei''

''speoris'' species group

* Aba roundleaf bat, ''H. abae'' * Schneider's leaf-nosed bat, ''H. speoris''

Uncertain group

*''

Hipposideros atrox ''Hipposideros atrox'', commonly known as the lesser bicolored leaf-nosed bat, is a species of bat found in Southeast Asia. Originally described as a subspecies in 1918, it was recognized as a full species in 2010. It uses echolocation to navigate ...

'' * Boeadi’s roundleaf bat, ''H. boeadii'' * Sulawesi roundleaf bat, ''H. celebensis'' * Griffin's leaf-nosed bat, ''H. griffini'' * Khasian leaf-nosed bat, ''H. khasiana'' *

Shield-nosed leaf-nosed bat The shield-nosed leaf-nosed bat or shield-nosed roundleaf bat (''Hipposideros scutinares'') is a bat from Laos and Vietnam. Taxonomy In their initial description for ''H. scutinares'', Mark F. Robinson and colleagues placed this species in the ' ...

''H. scutinares'' *'' Hipposideros tephrus'' * House-dwelling leaf-nosed bat, ''H. einnaythu'' *

Wollaston's roundleaf bat Wollaston's roundleaf bat (''Hipposideros wollastoni'') is a species of bat in the family Hipposideridae. It is found in West Papua, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. It was named after the explorer Sandy Wollaston. Taxonomy and etymology It was ...

, ''H. wollastoni''

Fossil species

The species '' Hipposideros bernardsigei'' Hand, 1997 describes one of many species of bats discovered in the north of Australia, the

Riversleigh fauna Riversleigh fauna is the collective term for any species of animal identified in fossil sites located in the Riversleigh World Heritage Area. Faunal zones The presence of the Riversleigh in the Oligo-Miocene has been exceptionally well preserve ...

, and appears to be a member of an Australopapuan group in an early radiation of the genus. The first hipposiderid to be described from

Pliocene The Pliocene ( ; also Pleiocene) is the epoch (geology), epoch in the geologic time scale that extends from 5.33 to 2.58Hipposideros winsburyorum'' Hand, 1999. Other named fossil species allied to ''Hipposideros'' include ''Hipposideros'' (''Pseudorhinolophus''), '' Hipposideros collongensis'', '' Hipposideros conquensis'', '' Hipposideros felix'', '' Hipposideros minor'', '' Hipposideros morloti'', '' Hipposideros omani'' and '' Hipposideros schlosseri''.

References

* Bat genera Taxa named by John Edward Gray Taxa described in 1831 {{Hipposideridae-stub