Rhinolophus fossil map
Where fossils of Rhinolophus have been found, shown on the Earth as it looked about 0 million years ago and on today’s map.
Dots are fossil collections recorded in the Paleobiology Database. The “then” view moves today’s fossil sites back to their positions 0 million years ago (the time slice nearest the median age of the fossils) using the Merdith et al. (2021) plate model; positions are approximate. Open on the timeline map →
| Group | Early mammals |
|---|---|
| Lived | 56 million years ago to the present (Ypresian to Holocene) |
| Periods | Paleogene, Neogene, Quaternary |
| Family | Rhinolophidae |
| Named by | Lacépède 1799 |
| Fossil records | 264 occurrences at 69 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | Spain, Hungary, France, Israel, China, South Africa, Poland, Italy, Greece, Austria … |
| Rock formations | txn:40644, Makapansgat, Colombacci, Kromdraai, Ville, Perriere |
About Rhinolophus
Horseshoe bats are bats in the family Rhinolophidae. In addition to the single living genus, Rhinolophus, which has about 106 species, the extinct genus Palaeonycteris has been recognized. Horseshoe bats are closely related to the Old World leaf-nosed bats, family Hipposideridae, which have sometimes been included in Rhinolophidae. The horseshoe bats are divided into six subgenera and many species groups. The most recent common ancestor of all horseshoe bats lived 34–40 million years ago, though it is unclear where the geographic roots of the family are, and attempts to determine its biogeography have been indecisive. Their taxonomy is complex, as genetic evidence shows the likely existence of many cryptic species, as well as species recognized as distinct that may have little genetic divergence from previously recognized taxa. They are found in the Old World, mostly in tropical or subtropical areas, including Africa, Asia, Europe, and Oceania.
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Horseshoe bat (revision 1369647117), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0; introduction excerpted verbatim, formatting removed. Ages, family, authority and fossil records: Paleobiology Database, accessed 23 October 2026. Ages are those of the rock layers the fossils were found in. Wikidata: Q830900.
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