New distribution record of the Ashy Roundleaf Bat Hipposideros cineraceus Blyth 1853 in Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo: Conservation implications

Here we report a new distribution record of the Ashy Roundleaf bat (Hipposideros cineraceus) from Mount Murud, Sarawak. These specimens were initially assigned to H. ater, in the field using external attributes and measurements. As these specimens external measurements overlaps other morphologically similar bicolor species group (e.g., H. bicolor, H. cineraceus and H. dyacorum), the recognition of these specimens remains uncertain. We employed morphometric hierarchical cluster analysis and molecular DNA sequencing techniques to provide species level discrimination between other similar bicolor species group individuals. Results from the analyses suggest that specimens assigned as H. ater were misidentified, and comparisons with other related species description provide evidence for the recognition of H. cineraceus. Subsequently, this documents the first record of H. cineraceus distribution in Mount Murud, Sarawak. Specimens studied here diverged genetically (5 %) in cytochrome b gene from those in Peninsular Malaysia, suggesting that H. cineraceus individuals in Borneo or at least in Sarawak may represent a different evolutionary lineage. We propose the revision of the H. cineraceus conservation status, especially for those in Borneo to be changed to endangered species status, given the scarcity of their distribution and genetic divergence.Further studies incorporating specimens from other populations from the Asian mainland and Borneo may provide insights in reevaluatingthe taxonomic status and their specific conservation status in this H. cineraceus complex.