Borisenko A.V., Kruskop S.V., Ivanova N.V. 2009. A new mouse-eared bat (Mammalia: Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) from Vietnam // Russian J. Theriol. Vol.7 (for 2008). No.2: 57–69 [in English].
Alex V. Borisenko [aborisen@uoguelph.ca], Biodiversity Institute of Ontario, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G 2W1;
Sergei V. Kruskop [kruskop@zmmu.msu.ru], Zoological Museum, Moscow State University, Bolshaya Nikitskaya, 6, Moscow 125009, Russia;
Natalia V. Ivanova [nivanova@uoguelph.ca], Biodiversity Institute of Ontario, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G 2W1.
KEY WORDS: Myotis, new species, Chiroptera, Vespertilionidae, Vietnam.
ABSTRACT. A new mouse-eared bat (Mammalia: Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) from the Myotis “siligorensis” species group is being described from the Hon Ba Mountain, ca. 30 km WSW of Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa Province, Vietnam (12.1113° N, 108.953° E, 1250 m ASL), based on a set of morphological and genetic characters. The new species is essentially similar to M. siligorensis alticraniatus, differing in slightly larger size, morphometrics, fine cranial and bacular traits. 12S rDNA demonstrates ca. 2% sequence divergence between the new species and its nearest neighbour, suggesting a history of genetic isolation. Provisional bat survey data from the Bi Doup-Hon Ba massif suggest that, although the new species co-occurs with M. siligorensis in the southern part of the Vietnam Central Highlands area, they are separated by an altitudinal gradient and habitat preferences, the former occupying mature forest at higher elevations and the latter confined to disturbed foothill areas.