Nature Conservation Research: Заповедная наука (Nov 2020)
On the taxonomic status of species from the group «Myotis nattereri» (Chiroptera, Vespertilionidae) in the Eastern Caucasus
Abstract
In Russia, Myotis nattereri was considered as a monotypic species, of which its range is divided into two parts.. One of them is the northern fragment consisting of Central Russia and the Urals, while the southern part of its range includes the Caucasus and Crimea. On the basis of morphological and molecular-genetic data, the taxonomic status of its Caucasian forms is discussed. In the Eastern Caucasus (Republic of Dagestan, Russia), we caught Myotis animals related to the group of «Myotis nattereri» species, similar to specimens of the West Asian Myotis cf. tschuliensis on the basis of skull size measurements. A comparison analysis showed that, outwardly, M. cf. tschuliensis 2 individuals are highly similar to specimens from Central Russia. However, these animals have some differences in the ear structure, os penis, attachment of the posterior edge of the wing membrane to the foot, and in the ratio of cilia lengths to bristles on the free edge of the tail membrane. The more reliable differences between M. cf. tschuliensis 2 animals and M. nattereri s.str. specimens were revealed on the basis of craniometric studies, but the complete confirmation of the species' independence of Caucasian specimens was obtained using the analysis of mtDNA sequences. According to phylogenetic constructions, Dagestan specimens designated by us as M. cf. tschuliensis 2, formed a well separated sister line in relation to the clade of Caucasian forms: M. schaubi and M. cf. tschuliensis 1 (p-distance: 7.4–7.0%). There are no reliable morphological differences between M. cf. tschuliensis 2 and M. cf. tschuliensis 1. Prior to genetic studies of M. tschuliensis specimens, we suggest using an open nomenclature for the East Caucasian form. If specimens designated as M. cf. tschuliensis 1, originated from the Near East, are genetically identical to the M. cf. tschuliensis specimens from its type location in Turkmenistan, then Dagestan bats designated as M. cf. tschuliensis 2 should be considered as a new, undescribed species.
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