Bats of Bako National Park and Additional Notes on the Rare Partial Albinism in Fawn Roundleaf Bat (Hipposideridae: Hipposideros cervinus)

Abstract

Bat survey was conducted in Bako National Park from 25th to 29th August 2013. A total of 107 individuals from11 species of bats were recorded. Hipposideros cervinus was recorded as the most abundance species with 51individuals while Murina suilla and Rhinolophus affinis were the least abundant with one individual each fromtotal captures. This study has added R. affinis as another new species locality record for the national park. Thisbrings up the total bat species known from the park now to 35 species of bats. Interestingly, an individual of H.cervinus with partial albinism was caught during this survey. This single bat was captured on the 27th August2013 and will be the first albino bat reported in Borneo and possibly Malaysia. This specimen is an adultfemale that presents high degree of albinism over most of the body but lacking on the upperparts of the bodyand part of the wings. Detailed description based on 16 external and craniodental measurements are presentedherein along with their species identification through genetic analyses. Further research on the genetic structureand behavior of an albino individual may help to identify the possible causes and consequences of albinism tothe bats populations.