How many species of H ipposideros have occurred on M adagascar since the L ate P leistocene?

Populations of the M alagasy H ipposideros commersoni (family Hipposideridae) are threatened by deforestation and hunting. Maximum likelihood and Bayesian analysis of 148 cytochrome b sequences found this species to be paraphyletic and composed of three well‐supported monophyletic clades. Clades B and C form a monophyletic lineage that can be referred to H. commersoni ; these two clades are separated by 6% sequence variation. Clade A represents a distinct evolutionary lineage separate (9–11% average sequence divergence) from H. commersoni (clades B and C ) and is named herein as a new species, Hipposideros cryptovalorona sp. nov. In the phylogeny presented herein, this species is strongly associated with the outgroup taxa H ipposideros gigas and H ipposideros vittatus , both restricted to Africa. External, cranial and dental measurements taken from the same individuals used in the molecular study indicate no clear distinction in morphology amongst these three clades; this includes noseleaf structure and craniodental characteristics. Principal component analyses showed limited separation of the three clades. Comparison to a Q uaternary fossil species from north‐west M adagascar, H ipposideros besaoka , found little morphological overlap between any of the three clades and this extinct species. Hence, at least three species of H ipposideros have occurred on M adagascar since the Late Pleistocene, two extant ( H .  commersoni s.s . and H. cryptovalorona sp. nov.) and one extinct ( H .  besaoka ). © 2015 The Linnean Society of London