Four new bat species from the Gaoligong Mountain and an updated catalogue of bats in China

Abstract

The Gaoligong Mountain (GLGM), situated at the border of Myanmar and southwestern China, encompasses three globally significant biodiversity hotspots. To assess its bat diversity, we undertook two consecutive years of surveys utilizing newly collected specimens. Through morphological examination and phylogenetic reconstruction based on molecular data, we identified four previously undocumented bat species: one from the genus Rhinolophus (Rhinolophus yuaner sp. nov.), one from the Arielulus species (Arielulus jinmao sp. nov.), and two from the genus Murina (Murina maojiao sp. nov. and Murina duanjiao sp. nov.). These discoveries indicate that the bat diversity in this region is likely to be underestimated, bringing the total number of bat species in the GLGM to 51. By integrating these new species with the latest literature, we have compiled an updated checklist of bats in China, which includes 167 species across 38 genera and 8 families. Collectively, these findings establish a critical foundation for advancing research on regional biodiversity and formulating conservation strategies for bats in this understudied biodiversity hotspot, while providing a comprehensive overview of the valid chiropteran taxa in China.

Keywords

• Bat
• New species
• Biodiversity
• GLGM