King Horseshoe Bat

The king horseshoe bat is a comparatively large Rhinolophus with broad ears and a complex noseleaf used to focus nasal echolocation. It belongs to a group of Asian horseshoe bats in which external and cranial details are essential for identification. Current taxonomic databases recognize it as a distinct living species (Mammal Diversity Database; specialist Rhinolophus literature).

Its range is centred on southern China and reaches northern mainland Southeast Asia, including Thailand. It is associated with montane forest and limestone cave systems, where it roosts by day and hunts nocturnal insects after dusk. Species-specific ecological and reproductive information remains sparse, so generalized values are omitted (Mammal Diversity Database; regional bat surveys). It is Nationally Vulnerable (Thailand Red Data 2025).