Least Horseshoe Bat

The least horseshoe bat is a very small Rhinolophus in the taxonomically complex pusillus group. Its compact body and high-frequency echolocation suit hunting small insects in cluttered vegetation, while the intricate noseleaf directs calls emitted through the nostrils. Identification often requires noseleaf and skull details together with acoustics (Mammal Diversity Database; regional taxonomic studies).

It ranges widely from South and East Asia through mainland Southeast Asia. Day roosts include caves, mines and other sheltered spaces near forest, and individuals forage along edges and within vegetation. Geographic variation and past name changes mean old records should be interpreted cautiously rather than pooled automatically (Mammal Diversity Database; specialist horseshoe-bat review). It is Nationally Least Concern (Thailand Red Data 2025).