https://sputnikglobe.com/20220615/scientists-discover-new-thick-thumbed-bat-in-india-name-it-after-meghalaya-state-1096339646.html
Scientists Discover New Thick-Thumbed Bat in India, Name It After Meghalaya State
Scientists Discover New Thick-Thumbed Bat in India, Name It After Meghalaya State
Sputnik International
With the find, the total number of bat species in India rises to 131, of which 67 are from the northeastern state of Meghalaya, which has the greatest bat... 15.06.2022, Sputnik International
2022-06-15T13:37+0000
2022-06-15T13:37+0000
2022-07-19T10:44+0000
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A new species of thick-thumbed bat has been found in the bamboo forests of India's Meghalaya state in Lailad village, which adjoins the Nongkhyllem Wildlife Sanctuary.The Glischropus Meghalayanus was named in honour of the state’s 50-year anniversary. The thick-thumbed bat was found in the same locality where the disk-footed bat species was discovered last year.Scientist from the Zoological Survey of India, Dr Uttam Saikia, along with two other European bat taxonomists Dr Gabor Csorba of the Hungarian Natural History Museum and Dr Manuel Ruedi of the Geneva Natural History Museum, reported the discovery. The findings will be published in the next issue of Zootaxa journal.“This genus Glischropus (thick thumbed bat) is the first report from South Asia; the only new discovery from India in over a decade,” Saikia told EastMojo news website.After comparing the Meghalaya findings with a large series of specimens of other think-thumbed bat species held in natural history museums across the world, the scientists came to the conclusion that the Meghalaya specimen indeed represent a distinct species.According to the researchers, this bat has typical fleshy pads on its thumbs and soles of its feet which aid it to crawl over smooth surfaces of bamboo internodes, which are usually hollow inside and form cavities.There are four recognised species of thick-thumbed bats of the genus Glischropus in Southeast Asia.Among these species, G. aquilus is endemic to Sumatra, G. javanus is restricted to western Java, whereas G. bucephalus is widely distributed north to the Isthmus of Kra and G. tylopus is widespread south of this zoogeographic boundary.“The area in and around Nongkhyllem holds three species of specialised bamboo dwelling bats, representing an extraordinary diversity of bamboo bats and also highlights the need to protect the bamboo forests,” Dr Saikia said.
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Scientists Discover New Thick-Thumbed Bat in India, Name It After Meghalaya State
13:37 GMT 15.06.2022 (Updated: 10:44 GMT 19.07.2022) With the find, the total number of bat species in India rises to 131, of which 67 are from the northeastern state of Meghalaya, which has the greatest bat diversity.
A new species of thick-thumbed bat has been found in the bamboo forests of India's Meghalaya state in Lailad village, which adjoins the Nongkhyllem Wildlife Sanctuary.
The Glischropus Meghalayanus was named in honour of the state’s 50-year anniversary. The
thick-thumbed bat was found in the same locality where the disk-footed bat species was discovered last year.
Scientist from the Zoological Survey of India, Dr Uttam Saikia, along with two other European bat taxonomists Dr Gabor Csorba of the Hungarian Natural History Museum and Dr Manuel Ruedi of the Geneva Natural History Museum, reported the discovery. The findings will be published in the next issue of Zootaxa journal.
“This genus Glischropus (thick thumbed bat) is the first report from South Asia; the only new discovery from India in over a decade,” Saikia told
EastMojo news website.
After comparing the Meghalaya findings with a large series of specimens of other think-thumbed bat species held in natural history museums across the world, the scientists came to the conclusion that the Meghalaya specimen indeed represent a distinct species.
According to the researchers, this bat has typical fleshy pads on its thumbs and soles of its feet which aid it to crawl over smooth surfaces of bamboo internodes, which are usually hollow inside and form cavities.
There are four recognised species of thick-thumbed bats of the genus Glischropus in Southeast Asia.
Among these species, G. aquilus is endemic to Sumatra, G. javanus is restricted to western Java, whereas G. bucephalus is widely distributed north to the Isthmus of Kra and G. tylopus is widespread south of this zoogeographic boundary.
“The area in and around Nongkhyllem holds three species of specialised bamboo dwelling bats, representing an extraordinary diversity of bamboo bats and also highlights the need to protect the bamboo forests,” Dr Saikia said.
