A team of researchers has described six previously unknown bat species in the Philippines, highlighting the country’s remarkable biodiversity and the hidden diversity of the world’s only true flying mammals.
The new species, all part of the tube-nosed bat group, were detailed in the scientific journal Zootaxa. They are named Murina alvarezi, Murina baletei, Murina hilonghilong, Murina luzonensis, Murina mindorensis, and Murina philippinensis. Each weighs between 4 and 14 grams.
“This discovery shows how much we still do not know about the natural world, including how many bat species exist,” said Burton Lim, assistant curator of mammals at the Royal Ontario Museum and co-author of the study. “Before our research, only two species of tube-nosed bats had been reported in the Philippines.”
Lim and his colleagues conducted years of morphological and genetic analysis on specimens collected across the Philippine islands. While confirming one previously reported species, they found that the second species previously thought to be native was not actually present in the country. Instead, they documented six distinct species, with some specimens first collected as far back as 1988 with the help of the Philippine government.
“These bats are notoriously elusive, so assembling the tube-nosed bat collection required years of expeditions and careful study, one bat at a time,” said co-author Jodi Sedlock, a biological scientist at Lawrence University.
The function of the bats’ tube-shaped nostrils remains uncertain, but researchers suggest they may provide a better sense of directional smell. With this discovery, the Philippines now has 85 recorded bat species, nearly double the number found in the United States.
“This research illustrates how much remains unknown about the species with which we share the planet,” said Judith Eger, curator emeritus of mammals at the Royal Ontario Museum. “Understanding biodiversity is essential to managing our environment for the benefit of both humanity and the other species on which our planet depends.”
Bat Appreciation Month continues through the end of October. In the United States, the celebrations traditionally include a Bat Beauty Contest organized by the Bureau of Land Management, though this year its status is uncertain due to a government shutdown.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
