Overview
Griffin’s Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros griffini) is an extraordinary microbat species discovered in 2008 and formally described in 2012 from Cat Ba Island in northern Vietnam’s iconic Ha Long Bay. Named in honor of Professor Donald Redfield Griffin, who pioneered the discovery of echolocation in bats, this specialized limestone karst dweller is distinguished by its remarkably complex, multi-layered fleshy nose-leaf ornament and unique high-frequency echolocation acoustics.
Biology and Physical Characteristics
The morphology of Hipposideros griffini is highlighted by its elaborate anterior nose-leaf, which functions as an acoustic megaphone that focuses and directs ultrasonic pulses through nasal cavities. It emits constant-frequency echolocation calls at approximately 79.2 kHz, fine-tuned for penetrating dense foliage without acoustic clutter. Its fur is soft, dense, and dark chocolate-brown on the dorsum, shifting to pale ash-gray on the venter. Broad, short wings confer exceptional agility, enabling the bat to hover and maneuver through narrow cavern passages and dense jungle understories.
Behavior and Ecology
Griffin’s Leaf-nosed Bats are nocturnal insectivores that roost colonially in deep, undisturbed limestone caves. They emerge at dusk to forage across lowland karst forests, utilizing high-duty-cycle echolocation to detect fluttering moths, scarab beetles, and caddisflies amidst dense tangled vegetation. Breeding colonies gather in humid inner cave chambers where temperatures remain thermally stable year-round, with females giving birth to a single pup in early summer.
Conservation and Human Impact
Due to its recent discovery and restricted known occurrences across fragmented karst blocks, Hipposideros griffini is listed as Data Deficient by the IUCN. Primary conservation hazards include habitat degradation from rapid tourism development on Cat Ba Island, unregulated cave disturbance, and limestone quarrying for cement manufacture across northern Vietnam. Protecting pristine subterranean caves within Cat Ba National Park remains crucial for the survival of this localized endemic.
Interesting Factoid
Griffin’s Leaf-nosed Bat was named after Donald Griffin, the scientist who first coined the term ‘echolocation’ in 1944 after proving that bats navigate through total darkness using ultrasonic sound waves.
Last updated: October 2026