Taxonomic revision of the South Asian allies of Hipposideros galeritus Cantor, 1846

Hipposideros galeritus was described in 1846, with subsequent studies suggesting four subspecies across South and Southeast Asia. Our study indicates that the Indian and Sri Lankan populations previously considered subspecies of H. galeritus are, in fact, distinct species in need of taxonomic revisions. Based on the morphometric analysis, structure of the baculum, molecular phylogenetics, and echolocation call analysis, the Indian, Sri Lankan, and Southeast Asian populations of Hipposideros galeritus are distinct. We provide a detailed description of H. brachyotus Dobson, 1874 and describe a new species—H. srilankaensis sp. nov.—from Sri Lanka. Key morphological differences were found in the noseleaf, ear shape, and cranial features between the Indian (H. brachyotus), Sri Lankan (H. srilankaensis sp. nov.), and Southeast Asian populations (H. galeritus s.l.). Substantial genetic distances were found between H. galeritus populations, suggesting cryptic diversity that is yet to be resolved.