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    Rhinolophus – Horseshoe bats

    Despite their name, the horseshoe bat family is decidedly unlucky

    Horseshoe bats are microbats weighing only 5-30g (0.17-1 ounce). They are related to leaf-nosed bats, sharing the same nose leaf structure. However, on these bats, the noseleaf resembles a horseshoe and is used for echolocation. They produce sounds through their nose and can hear the echo simultaneously, which is excellent for pinpointing the insects they feed on.

    They are also a repository for zoonotic (diseases that can spread from animals to humans and vice-versa) coronaviruses, rabies, and viral hemorrhagic fever, which doesn’t add to their popularity.