Formosan golden tube-nosed bat

The Formosan golden tube-nosed bat (Harpiola isodon) is native to the high-altitude regions of Taiwan.

Formosan golden tube-nosed bat

Data Deficient  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Chiroptera
Family: Vespertilionidae
Genus: Harpiola
Species:
H. isodon
Binomial name
Harpiola isodon
Kuo, Fang, Csorba & Lee, 2006

Taxonomy and etymology

It was described as a new species in 2006. The holotype had been collected in Yuli Wildlife Refuge in Zhuoxi, Taiwan in 1998. Its species name "isodon" means "equal-toothed." The researchers who described the species chose this name because of the almost-equal basal area of the canines, first premolars, and second premolars.[2]

Description

It is a medium-sized tube-nosed bat, with an average forearm length of 31–36 mm (1.2–1.4 in). Its guard hairs have shiny, golden tips, inspiring its common name. Its dorsal fur is very long, while the ventral fur is shorter. Its fur texture is woolly. Individual hairs are dark brown at their bases, bright yellow in the middle, and dark brown again at their tips. Its uropatagium is densely furred both above and below. Its ears are 12.5–13 mm (0.49–0.51 in) long; its tragi are 6.5–8 mm (0.26–0.31 in) long.[2]

Range and habitat

It has been documented in the mountainous regions of Taiwan, from elevations of 1,000–2,400 m (3,300–7,900 ft) above sea level.[2] In 2006, it was published that the species had been documented in Vietnam for the first time.[3]

Conservation

It is currently assessed as data deficient by the IUCN. Its only IUCN assessment was published in 2008, only two years after the species was described. The IUCN stated that there was not enough information on the extent and ecology of the species to make an accurate conservation assessment.[1]

References

  1. Smith, A.T.; Johnston, C.H. (2008). "Harpiola isodon". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2008: e.T136445A4292681. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T136445A4292681.en.
  2. Kuo, Hao-Chi; Fang, Yin-Ping; Csorba, Gábor; Lee, Ling-Ling (2006). "The definition of Harpiola (Vespertilionidae: Murininae) and the description of a new species from Taiwan". Acta Chiropterologica. 8: 11–19. doi:10.3161/1733-5329(2006)8[11:TDOHVM]2.0.CO;2.
  3. Kruskop, S. V.; Kalyakin, M. V.; Abramov, A. V. (2006). "First record of Harpiola (Chiroptera, Vespertilionidae) from Vietnam" (PDF). Russian Journal of Theriology. 5 (1): 13–16. doi:10.15298/rusjtheriol.05.1.02.
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