A new bat species of the genus Myotis with comments on the phylogenetic placement of M. keaysi and M. pilosatibialis

Abstract

, lophostoma1@gmail (CAC-B). *Corresponding author Molecular studies of Neotropical Myotis (Chiroptera, Vespertilionidae) in the last decade have uncovered substantial cryptic diversity. One example is M. keaysi pilosatibialis, which is characterized by a complex taxonomy derived from low morphological variation. Herein, we studied cryptic diversity of a high elevation clade from premontane and montane forest of Chiriquí Province (Panamá), Cordillera Oriental (Ecuador), and Valle del Silencio (Costa Rica). Additionally, we disentangle relationships of M. k. keaysi and M. k. pilosatibialis by determining their phylogenetic placement within the Neotropical Myotis radiation. In the process, we identified a new lineage of species level hierarchy that is described herein. We used an integrative taxonomy approach, using a combination of linear morphometrics, qualitative morphology, molecular phylogenetics, and climatic analysis. The newly identified lineage is a sister species to M. pilosatibialis str., but differs from M. sp. (Quintana Roo, México), M. keaysi str., and M. oxyotus gardneri in size and other quantitative morphological characters in addition to both nuclear and mitochondrial DNA sequence divergence. Based on our phylogenetic analysis of partial cytochrome b sequence, the polyphyly of M. keaysi str. and M. pilosatibialis str. is resolved, with M. keaysi str. paraphyletic to M. ruber and M. simus. Myotis pilosatibialis is part of a monophyletic clade that is sister to the newly identified species. This report refines our understanding of taxonomy and systematics of the Myotis pilosatibialis complex of bats, identifies and describes a new species of Myotis, and more broadly it contributes to efforts to characterize species in this genus in Neotropical environments. Based on its distribution, we classified this newly described species as paramontane due to its restriction to premontane and montane forest of Chiriquí Province (Panamá), Valle del Silencio (Costa Rica), and Cordillera Oriental (Ecuador). These habitats are susceptible to the effects of climate change, in addition to ongoing habitat destruction. Los estudios de genética molecular del género de murciélagos Neotropicales Myotis (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) han permitido descubrir diversidad críptica en la última década. Un ejemplo es M. keaysi pilosatibialis, el cual se caracteriza por una taxonomía compleja con poca variabilidad morfológica. En esta investigación, estudiamos un clado de murciélagos myotinos de los bosques premontanos y montanos de la Provincia de Chiriquí (Panamá), Cordillera Oriental (Ecuador) y el Valle del Silencio (Costa Rica). Adicionalmente, resolvemos las relaciones de M. k. keaysi y M. k. pilosatibialis al determinar su posición filogenética en la radiación de Myotis en el Neotrópico. En el proceso, identificamos una entidad biológica a nivel de especies que es descrita es esta contribución. Desde un enfoque de taxonomía integrativa, utilizamos una combinación de morfometría lineal, caracteres morfológicos cualitativos,...

Unraveling the Myotis Morass: Ultraconserved-Element Analysis Reveals Introgression, Cryptic Diversity, and Taxonomic Trouble in the Most Species-rich Bat Genus

“…Several samples had been examined in prior studies; for those cases we used the most recently published identification. Vouchers were identified using (Moratelli et al 2013; York et al 2019) as guides, in conjunction with descriptions of new species that have been named more recently (Larsen et al 2012b; Miranda et al 2013; Moratelli et al 2013; Moratelli and Wilson 2014; Moratelli et al 2016 Dec 15; Barquez et al 2017; Moratelli et al 2017; Moratelli et al 2019; Carrión-Bonilla and Cook 2020; Novaes et al 2021).…”

“…That study also found that M. nigricans, a species widespread throughout South America, could be as many as twelve distinct cryptic lineages. Since then, from within M. nigricans, nine new species have been recognized (M. dinelli, M. clydejonesi, M. bakeri, M. handleyi, M. attenboroughi, M. izecksohni, M. lavali, M. diminutus, M. larensis, M. midastactus, and M. nyctor) (Larsen et al 2012b;Miranda et al 2013;Moratelli et al 2013; UNRAVELING THE MYOTIS MORASS 5 Moratelli and Wilson 2014;Moratelli et al 2016 Dec 15;Barquez et al 2017;Moratelli et al 2017;Carrión-Bonilla and Cook 2020;Novaes et al 2021).…”

Heterogeneous taxonomic resolution of cytochrome b gene identification of bats from Argentina: Implications for field studies

“…The genus Myotis comprises more than 100 species that originated during the last 10-15 million years [64], representing one of the most successful mammalian radiations. Conflict among morphological classifications, mitochondrial and nuclear gene trees, as well as among individual nuclear loci have been reported [26,65,66], suggesting that the Myotis radiation may have undergone phenomena such as lineage sorting, reticulation, and introgression [65]. Morphological variation is often a poor indicator of species-level relationships among this genus [67]; instead, geography showed to be a better predictor of phylogenetic relationships than morphology [67].…”

A new species of Myotis (Chiroptera, Vespertilionidae) from Uruguay

“…Currently, 28 species of Myotis are recognized from the Neotropics (Moratelli et al 2019a(Moratelli et al , 2019bCarrión-Bonilla and Cook 2020;Novaes et al 2021). However, phylogenetic studies have identified at least 35 independent evolutionary lineages and paraphyletic species, showing that at least 20% of the diversity of neotropical Myotis comprise undescribed species (Clare et al 2007;Larsen et al 2012;Chaverri et al 2016), which is also supported by systematic reviews based on morphological data (e.g., Moratelli et al 2011;Moratelli and Wilson 2014;Novaes et al 2018Novaes et al , 2021.…”

“…Currently, the ruber-group is composed of eight species restricted to the Neotropics: M. ruber (É. Geoffroy, 1806), M. simus Thomas, 1901, M. keaysi J.A. Allen, 1914, M. riparius Handley, 1960, M. elegans Hall, 1962, M. pilosatibialis LaVal, 1973, M. midastactus Moratelli & Wilson 2014, and M. armiensis Carrión-Bonilla & Cook, 2020(Moratelli et al 2013, 2019aCarrión-Bonilla and Cook 2020). However, morphological and molecular evidence indicate that the species diversity in the ruber-group may be underestimated (Clare et al 2011;Moratelli and Wilson 2014;Novaes et al 2017;Carrión-Bonilla and Cook 2020).…”