Himalayan Long-tailed Myotis: New species of bat
Researchers have discovered a new species of bat named Himalayan long-tailed Myotis (Myotis himalaicus).
- Himalayan Long-tailed Myotis is a new species of bat found in the Western Himalayan region.
- It belongs to a group of morphologically similar species called the Myotis frater complex, which has a wide distribution from eastern China, Taiwan, central and southeastern Siberia, Korea, Japan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
- The Himalayan long-tailed Myotis, which inhabits Deodar, Pine, and Cedar forests, appears to be a rare species native to the southern slopes of the Himalayas.
- It is considered “medium-sized,” reaching about 3.5 inches in length and weighing less than an ounce
- They have “delicate” feet and “relatively long” thumbs ending in “a strong but short claw.” Their heads have “short” ears and “rather delicate” teeth.
- These bats have been found in Uttarakhand, India, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
- Bats contribute to overall biodiversity and the health of ecosystems.
- Throughout the night, bats devour insects in farms, fields, forests, grasslands and around our homes, including agricultural pests and disease-causing mosquitoes.
- Bat droppings (guano) mined from caves are widely used as a fertilizer for agricultural crops as they have high concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorous.
- Some bats sip nectar, pollinate flowers, eat fruits, and spread the seeds of many important tree species.
