| Eastern barbastelle | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Chiroptera |
| Family: | Vespertilionidae |
| Genus: | Barbastella |
| Species: | B. darjelingensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Barbastella darjelingensis (Hodgson, 1855) | |
 | |
| Synonyms | |
Plecotus darjelingensis Contents | |
The eastern barbastelle or Asian barbastelle (Barbastella darjelingensis) is a species of vesper bat found throughout much of Asia, from Afghanistan to Taiwan. [2]
It was described by Brian Houghton Hodgson in 1855, and was previously thought to be a subspecies of the Arabian barbastelle (B. leucomelas), with B. leucomelas being previously known as the eastern or Asian barbastelle when it contained B. darjelingensis. However, a 2008 study, and several later genetic analyses, found B. leucomelas to be a distinct species from B. darjelingensis, and thus split them both. [3] [4] The American Society of Mammalogists, IUCN Red List, and ITIS all follow the results of this study. Further genetic studies indicate that B. darjelingensis itself contains many cryptic lineages that could represent distinct species, but this is disputed due to all most populations having similar morphology to one another. [1] [2] [5] However, the Caspian barbastelle (B. caspica) and Japanese barbastelle (B. pacifica) are indeed thought to represent distinct species and have been split as such by the ASM and ITIS, with the IUCN also acknowledging them but not yet providing a conservation status. [1] [6]
The specific epithet darjelingensis references the Indian town of Darjeeling, the type locality of this species. [3]
This species has a very wide range across Central, South, and East Asia, ranging from Afghanistan south throughout the Himalayas and east through China, as far east as Taiwan and as far south as Vietnam. There is a single dubious record from Tamil Nadu in southern India. Its range is thought to comprise mountainous areas at moderate elevations, where it inhabits montane temperate and subtropical forests. It likely roosts in caves, rock crevices, and tree hollows. It has been recorded foraging over streams. [1]
This species may be threatened by unregulated visits to and destruction of the underground cavities where it roosts, as well as destruction of and use of pesticides in foraging habitat. [1] Populations in South Asia are threatened by deforestation, which has reduced the range and quality of potential habitat for this species. [7] However, it has a wide range with significant portions in sparsely populated regions, so it is not thought to be threatened. However, if the cryptic lineages within this species are found out to represent valid species of their own, they may warrant a higher threat status. [1]
Vespertilionidae is a family of microbats, of the order Chiroptera, flying, insect-eating mammals variously described as the common, vesper, or simple nosed bats. The vespertilionid family is the most diverse and widely distributed of bat families, specialised in many forms to occupy a range of habitats and ecological circumstances, and it is frequently observed or the subject of research. The facial features of the species are often simple, as they mainly rely on vocally emitted echolocation. The tails of the species are enclosed by the lower flight membranes between the legs. Over 300 species are distributed all over the world, on every continent except Antarctica. It owes its name to the genus Vespertilio, which takes its name from a word for bat, vespertilio, derived from the Latin term vesper meaning 'evening'; they are termed "evening bats" and were once referred to as "evening birds".
The mouse-eared bats or myotises are a diverse and widespread genus (Myotis) of bats within the family Vespertilionidae. The noun "myotis" itself is a Neo-Latin construction, from the Greek "muós and "oûs", literally translating to "mouse-eared".
The common pipistrelle is a small pipistrelle microbat whose very large range extends across most of Europe, North Africa, South Asia, and may extend into Korea. It is one of the most common bat species in the British Isles. In Europe, the northernmost confirmed records are from southern Finland near 60°N.
The western barbastelle, also known as the barbastelle or barbastelle bat, is a European bat in the genus Barbastella. This species is found from Portugal to Azerbaijan and from Sweden to Canary Islands, where a sub-species was identified. It has a short nose, small eyes and wide ears. The conservation status of B. barbastellus is assessed as "near threatened", "vulnerable", "critically endangered" or "extinct" in various parts of its range.
Hodgson's bat, also called the copper-winged bat or black-and-orange myotis, is a species of vesper bat in the genus Myotis, the mouse-eared bats. Favouring mountain forests, it is found throughout Central, Southeast, and East Asia, from Afghanistan to Taiwan. It is about 5 centimetres (2.0 in) long and is distinguished from most other species of bat in this range by its yellowish colouration.
Murina is a genus of vesper bats. They are found throughout temperate and tropical regions of Asia.
The Arabian barbastelle, also known as the levant barbastelle, is a species of vesper bat. Its habitat is temperate forests and caves. It is threatened by habitat loss. It is found in Egypt (Sinai), Israel, and Eritrea.
The fringed long-footed myotis is a species of vesper bat in the family Vespertilionidae. It is found in China, Taiwan and Hong Kong.
Barbastella is a genus of vespertilionid bats. There are seven extant species in this genus and one only known from fossil remains.
The Beijing barbastelle, also known as the Beijing wide-eared bat, is a species of vesper bat endemic to Beijing Municipality, China. The species was discovered by Chinese zoology students in 2001 in caves of Fangshan District in southwestern Beijing and was identified as a distinct species by zoologists Zhang Shuyi, Gareth Jones, Zhang Jingshuo and Han Naijian in 2007.
The chestnut myotis is a species of mouse-eared bat in the family Vespertilionidae. It is found in South Asia.
Myotis annatessae is a recently described species of bat in the family Vespertilionidae. It is endemic to Vietnam and Laos.
The Oriental serotine is a species of bat in the family Vespertilionidae. It is widespread and found throughout Asia.
The Alashanian pipistrelle is a species of bat in the family Vespertilionidae. It is found in China, South Korea, Mongolia, Japan, and Russia.
Plecotini is a tribe of bats in the family Vespertilionidae. It contains several genera found throughout the Northern Hemisphere, in Eurasia, North Africa, and North America. Several genera in this tribe are known as big-eared bats or long-eared bats. It also contains the spotted bat and barbastelles.
The reddish-black myotis or black-winged myotis, colloquially known as the "red bat" or "golden bat" in South Korea, is a species of vesper bat found throughout East Asia.
The long-tailed myotis is a species of vesper bat found in northern and eastern Asia.
Kozlov's long-eared bat is a species of vesper bat in the family Vespertilionidae. It is found in southern Mongolia and adjacent parts of China.
Strelkov's long-eared bat is a species of vesper bat found in mountainous regions of Central Asia.
Ward's long-eared bat is a species of vesper bat in the family Vespertilionidae. It is found in mountainous regions of South Asia and adjoining regions.
