Hipposideros Srilankaensis

Why in News?

A global research team from Osmania University have identified and described a new species of bat.

It is a new species of leaf-nosed bat species.
Endemic to - Sri Lanka.
Taxonomy
- Scientific Name – Hipposideros srilankaensis.
- Family – Hipposideridae.
Named after –Its endemic nature to Sri Lanka.
Habitat – Found in dense forests to caves.
Morphology – A broad noseleaf, distinct ear shape, and cranial characteristics distinct from the Indian Hipposideros brachyotus.
Uniqueness - Genetic analysis further confirmed its distinctiveness from other closely related species in the region.

Hipposideros brachyotus

It is a species previously considered a subspecies of Hipposideros galeritus.
The research confirmed that it is a distinct species endemic to India and reclassified it as Hipposideros brachyotus.
Uniqueness – Genetic analysis further confirmed its distinctiveness from other known species in the region.
Echolocation call analysis further supported its classification.

36 species of bats are found in India and that Hyderabad is home to 14 different species of bats.

References