News Highlights
Scientists have discovered a new species of bamboo dwelling bat in Ri Bhoi district of Meghalaya.
Bamboo Dwelling Bat
- The present discovery is the first report of a thick thumbed bat not only from India but also from South Asia
- The scientists behind the discovery are Uttam Saikia from the Zoological Survey of India, who collected the specimen from the forested patch in the summer of 2020 along with Gabor Csorba of the Hungarian Natural History Museum and Manuel Ruedi of the Natural History Museum of Geneva
- The newly discovered species is small in size and has a dark brown colour with sulphur yellow belly.
- Location
- Two recently collected Glischropus specimens from Meghalaya in northeastern India extend the known distribution range of the genus westward into South Asia by ca. (approximately) 1,000 km.
- Findings
- Morphological examination of these specimens and comparison with all known species in this genus revealed marked differences in colouration, dental characters and bacular traits.
- The nomenclature of the newly discovered species Glischropus meghalayanus celebrates the State of Meghalaya, where the new species was found.
- A few of these bat species from Meghalaya are endemic to the region.
Ecological Significance of Meghalaya
- With this new discovery, the total number of bat species known from India stands at 131. Meghalaya, a State with a small geographical area, harbours the highest bat diversity in the country with 67 species, which is about 51% of total bat species in the country
Pic Courtesy : The Hindu
Content Source : The Hindu