An integrative approach to characterize Malagasy bats of the subfamily Vespertilioninae Gray, 1821, with the description of a new species ofHypsugo

Abstract

Although important advances have been made in recent years in the taxonomy of different families and subfamilies of Malagasy bats, those belonging to the Vespertilioninae remain partially unresolved. Herein using a mitochondrial marker (cytochrome b) as the point of departure for 76 specimens of Malagasy vespers and appropriate African taxa, we diagnose the six taxa of this subfamily on the island by overlaying different morphological and bioacoustic characters on the clade structure of sequenced animals. The species include: endemic Neoromicia matroka, which is sister to African N. capensis; endemics N. malagasyensis and N. robertsi, which form sister species; a member of the genus Hypsugo, which is sister to African H. anchietae and described herein as new to science; Pipistrellus hesperidus for which Madagascar animals are genetically close but distinct from African populations of the same species; and endemic P. raceyi, which shows segregation of eastern (mesic) and western (dry) populations and its sister species relationships are unresolved. While the external and craniodental measurements, as well as bioacoustic 988 variables, allow only partial differentiation of these six species of Vespertilioninae, molecular characters provide definitive separation of the taxa, as do male bacular morphology.

Bats as potential suppressors of multiple agricultural pests: A case study from Madagascar

“…Call sequences were also identified as feeding buzzes (specific echolocation sequence that a bat uses as it pursues and subsequently catches its prey). We used the frequency of maximum energy or peak frequency (kHz), the start and ending frequencies (kHz), the duration (ms) and the call shape to identify or group species from the existing literature and our own release calls (Fenton et al, 1980;Russ and Bennett, 2001;Kofoky et al, 2009;Goodman et al, 2011;Goodman et al, 2015).…”

Hidden diversity of Nycteribiidae (Diptera) bat flies from the Malagasy region and insights on host-parasite interactions

“…Information on bat diversity in the Malagasy Region (Madagascar and Comoros Archipelago) has increased considerably in recent decades with the description of several species new to science. Currently, 49 distinct bat species have been reported in this region, of which about 80% are endemic [ 1 – 4 ]. These investigations, which included new field collections of bats and their ectoparasites, have substantially clarified the taxonomy of the regional bat fauna and improved previously available information [ 5 ] on the diversity and ecology of bat parasites, including flies of the family Nycteribiidae [ 6 , 7 ].…”

An eco-epidemiological study of Morbilli-related paramyxovirus infection in Madagascar bats reveals host-switching as the dominant macro-evolutionary mechanism

“…Genetic and fossil studies have estimated the basal split of placental mammals in the superorder Laurasiatheria from their ancestors at approximately 80–90 million years ago (Mya) and a diversification of bat families at approximately 62 Mya 28 . The Chiroptera of Madagascar are placed in eight different families and currently 45 species recognized, of which 36 species (80%) are endemic 29 30 31 ; it is assumed that most originated from Africa. In certain cases, phylogenetic analyses provide evidence for recent periods of diversification.…”