Paul Carter
Posted 18 Aug 2024. Revised 19 Aug 2024; further revisions/additions likely. All images by PC.
For identification or taxonomy comments please contact me at: paulcarter@pacapix.com
Summary
On an overnight visit (27-28 July 2024) with Nick Cox and Le Khac Quyet we saw 15 species. The highlights were Ha Long Leaf-nosed Bat, Indochinese Shrewlike Mouse, Mekong White-bellied Rat and a Tube-nosed Bat species. My first visit to Cuc Phuong NP (19-20 Nov 2012) included Perny’s Long-nosed Squirrel.
Contents
a) Mammal list
b) Mammal records: extended notes and images
c) Reptile records
d) Cuc Phuong NP
e) References
A. MAMMAL LIST
This is a list of 17 species seen. Abbreviations used: PH – Photographed; NP – Not Photographed. Species that I had not seen before are marked as **.
See the next section for extended notes, locations and images for the mammals listed below
- Northern Tree Shrew (Tupaia belangeri). NP. 2024.
- Lesser False Vampire (Megaderma spasma). PH. 2024.
- Pearson’s Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus pearsonii). PH. 2012**, 2024.
- Ha Long Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros alongensis). Endemic. PH. 2024**.
- Allen’s Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros poutensis). PH. 2024.
- Shield-faced Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros lylei). PH. 2024.
- Andersen’s Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros gentilis). PH. 2024.
- Stoliczka’s Asian Trident Bat (Aselliscus stoliczkanus). PH. 2024.
- Great Evening Bat (Ia io). PH. 2024.
- Tube-nosed Bat sp (Murina cyclotis? / harrisoni / huttoni). PH. 2024**.
- Perny’s Long-nosed Squirrel (Dremomys pernyi). NP. 2012**.
- Chinese Red-cheeked Squirrel (Dremomys ornatus). PH. 2024**.
- Black Giant Squirrel (Ratufa bicolor). PH. 2012.
- Pallas’s Squirrel (Callosciurus erythraeus). PH. 2012, 2024.
- Eastern Striped Squirrel (Tamiops maritimus). PH. 2012, 2024.
- Mekong White-bellied Rat (Niviventer mekongis). PH. 2024**.
- Indochinese Shrewlike Mouse (Mus pahari). PH. 2024.
B. MAMMAL RECORDS: EXTENDED NOTES AND IMAGES
In the sections below I have included links for iNat posts because in some cases I post more photos there than in this summary; and alternative ID comments might be posted there for some species.
m1) Northern Tree Shrew (Tupaia belangeri). 2024: a few seen near Palace Cave and behind Bong Restaurant.
m2) Lesser False Vampire (Megaderma spasma). 2024: Five seen at Dang Cave. iNat post: www.inaturalist.org/observations/233315188.
m3) Pearson’s Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus pearsonii). Seen in Palace Cave (2012) and Dang Cave (2024). iNat post: www.inaturalist.org/observations/233310422.
m4) Ha Long Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros alongensis). 2024: +200 seen in Dang Cave and in Palace Cave. iNat posts: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/233671672 and www.inaturalist.org/observations/233670707. As at end-July 2024 there were no other images on iNat for comparison but Thong et al (2012 and 2023 Fig 1) show images for both ssp. Thong et al (2012) treated alongensis at species level; and described ssp “Hipposideros alongensis sungi” with its holotype from Cuc Phuong NP. Thong et al (2012) noted that (a) a “well-developed fleshy outgrowth is present behind the posterior nose leaf in males, which enlarges during the breeding season” and (b) that “almost all mature males of the species captured between August and September had visible para-anal glands, meaning that they are reproductively active in this time period”. Many of the individuals in my images (end July) had distinct swelling behind the posterior noseleaf and to the side indicating them to be breeding males; and there were tight groups that appeared to be mostly males. Thong et al (2012) also noted that their “results suggest that H. alongensis seasonally changes its roosting sites”.
m5) Allen’s Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros poutensis). Seen in Dang Cave and Palace Cave (2024). Taxonomy: Split from H. larvatus. “H. cf larvatus” in Francis (2019 – Plate 14.6 and p243) includes H. larvatus s.s., “Hipposideros poutenis” and H. grandis (as shown in HMW9). My image #20240727-0083 (not posted here) shows a roost of +100 H. alongensis but on the left side is a smaller brown Hipposideros that appears to be H. poutensis.
m6) Shield-faced Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros lylei). 2024: +100 seen in Palace Cave. iNat post: www.inaturalist.org/observations/233289205
m7) Andersen’s Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros gentilis). 2024: seen in Dang Cave (common). Taxonomy: Douangboubpha et al (2010) noted H. pomona is probably a composite of at least 2 species. HMW9 (p254) now show H. gentilis (with 2 ssp – gentilis and sinensis) ranging from NE India into SE Asia; the 2 spp might be 2 distinct species. “Hipposideros pomona” in Francis (2019) refers now to H. gentilis (previously “Hipposideros pomona gentilis”).
m8) Stoliczka’s Asian Trident Bat (Aselliscus stoliczkanus). Seen in Dang Cave (x15 on 27 July 2024); one seen in Palace Cave (28 July). iNat post: www.inaturalist.org/observations/233313432
m9) Great Evening Bat (Ia io). I photographed one deep in Palace Cave (28 July 2024). iNat post: www.inaturalist.org/observations/233284299. A large bat hawking for insects around the street lamps at the Visitor Centre was likely Ia io. Other local records: Hayden Bofill et al (2024 Fig 4a) show a record from “deep in a cave”.
m10) Round-eared Tube-nosed Bat (Murina cyclotis) or M. huttoni / harrisoni. PROVISIONAL ID. On 28 Oct 2024 (whilst with Nick Cox, Le Khac Quyet and Le Van Dung) I scoped two roosts in banana leaves, the roosts 370 m (straight line) apart.
The first roost had 3 individuals; iNat post https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/233716740.
The second roost had 7 individuals visible; iNat https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/233726600.
Only one image is shown in this report; there are additional images at the iNat posts. ID notes (without seeing the teeth, and referring to Francis, 2019): They appear to all be the same species and look very similar to that shown in Hayden Bofill et al (2024 Fig 4B). Some individuals show rounded ears; tragus appears whitish in one and pinkish-brown in others; ears do not appear long (therefore not M. huttoni ?); venter and chin appears buffy-orange and not whitish (M. harrisoni has white underparts?). M. fionae is an option, as is M. cyclotis. Colouration does not fit M. feae or M. eleryi. Behaviour: HMW9 states that Round-eared Tube-nosed Bat (Murina cyclotis) roosts primarily in foliage either “alone or in groups up to three individuals”. If these are M. cyclotis then the group size of 7 appears to be unusual. Other local records: Hayden Bofill et al (2024) in the species list for Cuc Phuong listed “Murina cf. cyclotis”; they found an individual in forest (see Fig 4b) and noted that “Murina cyclotis is the only species of Murina recorded from CPNP and, although no genetic sequence was successfully produced for this individual, morphological characteristics are almost identical to descriptions of Murina cyclotis in previous publications”.
m11) Perny’s Long-nosed Squirrel (Dremomys pernyi). 2012: seen from 5m away at Bong Substation (no photo). Another record from Bong Substation is shown at www.inaturalist.org/observations/223851029.
m12) Chinese Red-cheeked Squirrel (Dremomys ornatus). One seen outside the Turtle Conservation Center (27 July 2024 @ 5.15 PM). Taxonomy: Balakirev et al (2021) note that red-cheeked squirrels in “northern Vietnam and southern China, which are usually attributed to D. rufigenis, should be treated as distinct genetic species D. ornatus” … “the southern limits of its distribution lie between 17°30′ and 17°45’N”. “Dremomys rufigenis” in Francis (2019 p162) now represents both D. rufigenis and D. ornatus.
m13) Black Giant Squirrel (Ratufa bicolor). Seen in 2012.
m14) Pallas’s Squirrel (Callosciurus erythraeus). Seen in 2012; and in 2024 (near Turtle Conservation Center and on the trail to Palace Cave).
m15) Eastern Striped Squirrel (Tamiops maritimus). Common. Seen at Bong Substation Area (2012) and in 2024 near the Visitor Center and on the trail to Palace Cave.
m16) Mekong White-bellied Rat (Niviventer mekongis). Various individuals were seen on 27 July 2024. At 8:02 PM a male was photographed (images below); its dorsum was orange-brown fur to reddish-brown (grey-based?) with long black guard-hairs; quality of pics not good enough to show extent of spines; venter is clearly white and not yellowish; TL estimated as 110% of HBL; tail bicoloured; darker grey-brown above and pale grey below. Hindfoot: toes white dorsally; the top of metatarsal has a reddish-brown patch. iNat post: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/233933749. At 1959-2004h three rodents were seen 1-2m above ground on small trees; they all retreated to the top of a 2-metre-high stump (nest location). They seemed to be around 10-12 cm HB, with Niviventer form; some might have been immatures, they seemed large-headed? ID notes: I have not found any recent papers describing Niviventers in CPNP. Ge et al (2020) describes recent splits. N. fulvescens and N. bukit are a little out of range. Ge et al (2020) notes that previous studies overestimated the distribution range of N. fulvescens, noting that it inhabits SW Yunnan and Northern Indochina to Nepal, at elevation of 1300 t0 2900 m. Ge et al (2020) and MDD-1/12 treat N. huang as endemic to China but the southern limit of its range is shown iNat as the Cuc Phuong NP area. Ge et al (2020) treat the lowland form (of the fulvescens group) in northern Vietnam as N. mekongis. Ge et al (2020) notes “Niviventer mekongis occurs sympatrically with N. cremoriventer and N. bukit. N. cremoriventer is easily distinguishable from N. mekongis by its uniformly black tail. Niviventer bukit is distinguishable from N. mekongis by its shorter TL and darker pelage colouration”. Following Ge et al (2020) this appears to be N. mekongis (assuming they can have white venters and not yellowish-white).
m17) Indochinese Shrewlike Mouse (Mus pahari). One scoped by PC (27 July 2024) at wpt-1383 (N20.28103° E105.67573°). Images show dorsum is overall grey-brown with spines that are mostly dark-tipped with brown-grey tips and lighter greyish-white base. Nose is pointed and shrew-like. Full venter not visible in images but venter at lateral edges is white (Shortridge’s Mouse is greyish-white below). Forefeet and hindfeet are white on top. Tail is generally greyish (but pinkish-grey near base); tail length is about 90% of head-body (Shortridge’s Mouse has TL 70% of HB (Francis, 2019)). Photos were taken of mouse as found (in-situ) on rocky forest floor. iNat post – www.inaturalist.org/observations/233652501. Other sightings: Feiler et al (2008 Fig 7) shows an image from Cuc Phuong NP. There are only a few records on iNat. I have also photographed it in Thailand (www.inaturalist.org/observations/228043306). Shortridge’s Mouse is not recorded from this area but does occur to the northwest of Cu Phuong NP.
C. REPTILE RECORDS
Palm Gecko (Gekko palmatus). Seen near Dang Cave at 2.15 PM. iNat post: www.inaturalist.org/observations/233273268.
Scale-bellied Tree Lizard (Acanthosaura lepidogaster).
D. CUC PHUONG NP
Cuc Phuong NP is about 3 hours drive south of Hanoi. Two caves worth visiting for bats are Dang Cave (of Prehistoric Man) aka Dong Nguoi Xua cave and Palace Cave (Dong Son Cung). The park is well visited by day-trippers. Large mammals are rare.
Sites visited in 2024:
Visitor Center (VC) and Entry Gate (20.249798°N 105.715201°E) are at the southeastern end of the park.
Mac Lake is 1 km NW of the VC.
Dang Cave (of Prehistoric Man) / Dong Nguoi Xua cave, as marked on the park map board, is about 7 km NW of the VC and a 300m walk from the cave parking site (wpt-1375 – N20.26976° E105.69290°) on the main access road; the cave at N20.29349° E105.66890°.
Palace Cave (Dong Son Cung). The trail starts from Bong Restaurant. With photo stops it took us about 2 hours to reach the cave (wpt-1393 – N20.35889° E105.60153°). We spent 90 minutes in the cave.
Bong Restaurant and parking area (20.348222°N 105.597848°E).
Bong Station Conference Center (visited 2012, not in 2024).
Accommodation:
There is accommodation in the park at the entrance, with restaurants here and at the Bong sub-station. In 2012 we stayed at Cuc Phuong Resort and Spa outside the park. In 2024 we stayed at rooms near the Visitor Center.
E. REFERENCES
Balakirev AE, Abramov AV, Rozhnov VV (2012 Jan). Taxonomic revision of Niviventer (Rodentia, Muridae) from Vietnam: A morphological and molecular approach. Russian Journal of Theriology 10(1):1-26. DOI: 10.15298/rusjtheriol.10.1.01.
Balakirev AE, Abramova AV, Phuonga BX, Rozhnova VV (2021). Natural Diversity and Phylogeny of Asian Red-Cheeked Squirrels (Rodentia, Sciuridae, Dremomys) in Eastern Indochina. Biology Bulletin 48:581-594.
Feiler A, Nadler T, Stefen C (2008). Bemerkungen zu Kleinsäugern der vietnamesischen Nationalparke Cuc Phuong und Phong Nha-Ke Bang und des Naturschutzgebietes Ke Go. Vertebrate Zoology 58(1):113‑125.
Francis CM (2019). Field Guide to the Mammals of South-east Asia (2nd Edition). Bloomsbury Publishing. Softcover and Kindle Edition.
Ge DY, Lu L, Xia L, Du YB, Wen ZX, Cheng JL, Abramov AV, Yang QS (2018). Molecular phylogeny, morphological diversity, and systematic revision of a species complex of common wild rat species in China (Rodentia, Murinae). Journal of Mammalogy 99 (6):1350–1374.
Ge D, Feijó A, Abramov AV, Wen Z, Liu Z, Cheng J, Xia L, Lu L, Yang Q (2020 May 13). Molecular phylogeny and morphological diversity of the Niviventer fulvescens species complex with emphasis on species from China. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 191(2):528-547 (2021 Feb). First Publ: 2020 May 13. DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaa040.
Hayden Bofill SI, Mayer F, Thong VD (2024). Bat diversity in the Cuc Phuong National Park, Vietnam – Results from VIETBIO field training and annotated species list. Biodiversity Data Journal 12: e119704. https://doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.12.e119704. Refer to “Suppl. material 2: Annotated list of bat species from Cuc Phuong National Park”.
HMW9: Wilson DE, Mittermeier RA (Eds) (2019). Handbook of the Mammals of the World v9: Bats. Lynx Editions, Barcelona.
MDD-1/12: Mammal Diversity Database (2024 Jan 5). Mammal Diversity Database (Version 1.12) [Data set]. Zenodo. Published 2024 Jan 5. Downloaded 2024 Mar 6.
Thong VD, Puechmaille SJ, Denginger A, Bates PJJ, Dietz C, Csorba G, Soisook P, Teeling EC, Matsumura S, Furey NM, Schnitzler H-U (2012). Systematics of the Hipposideros turpis complex and a description of a new subspecies from Vietnam. Mammal Review 42:166–192. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2907.2011.00202.x.
Thong VD (2013-07-09). An updated list of leaf-nosed bats (Hipposideridae) from Vietnam and key features of Hipposideros alongensis. Tap Chi Sinh Hoc. 35(2). doi:10.15625/0866-7160/v35n2.3101 .
Thong VD (2023). Remarks on the diversity and echolocation calls of hipposiderid bats (Chirroptera: Hipposideridae) in Cuc Phuong National Park, northeastern Vietnam. Academia Journal of Biology 45(4):1-9. DOI: 10.15625/2615-9023/19228.
My Vietnam page includes links to other reports and notes on logistics.