Two new bat species discovered in India; bat diversity now at 138 species

A joint team of researchers from India and Hungary has recorded two bat species in India for the first time, marking a significant addition to the country’s known mammal diversity and reinforcing the global conservation importance of the forests of Northeast India.

During extensive field surveys across Mizoram between 2023 and 2025, scientists documented the presence of the Indo‑Chinese thick‑thumbed bat (Glischropus bucephalus) and the Indo‑Chinese mouse‑eared bat (Myotis indochinensis) in the country.

The study, led by researchers from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), Shillong, in collaboration with scientists from other Indian institutions and the Hungarian Natural History Museum, was published in the journal Animal Taxonomy and Ecology.

Based in Shillong, the ZSI team employed detailed morphological examinations, molecular genetic analyses and echolocation studies to conclusively identify the species.

Range extensions across South Asia

Until now, Glischropus bucephalus was known only from Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand and Myanmar. Its discovery in Serchhip district of Mizoram extends its known range by about 670 km westwards from its previously recorded westernmost locality in Myanmar, the researchers said.

Similarly, Myotis indochinensis, previously recorded only from Vietnam, Laos and southern China, was found in Reiek, Mizoram, extending its known distribution by nearly 1,300 km westwards.

The researchers also noted that a recently published genetic sequence from Bangladesh, currently assigned to another bat species, likely belongs to Myotis indochinensis. "If confirmed, it would indicate that the species is more widely distributed across South Asia than previously believed," they said.

Boost to India’s bat diversity

With these latest discoveries, India’s known bat diversity has increased to at least 138 species. The findings significantly extend the known distribution of both species from Southeast Asia into South Asia and underscore the rich but poorly documented biodiversity of Northeast India.

“Northeast India lies at the junction of the Indian and Southeast Asian biogeographic realms,” said lead researcher Uttam Saikia. “Continued exploration in this region is revealing species and distribution patterns that were previously overlooked, emphasising the need for more intensive biodiversity surveys.”

Addressing the “Wallacean Shortfall”

According to the study, these discoveries help address what biologists call the “Wallacean Shortfall” -- the lack of adequate information on the geographic distribution of species -- a major challenge for biodiversity conservation, especially in biologically rich but poorly explored regions.

By mapping the presence of these two bat species in Mizoram, the research not only adds to the scientific inventory of India’s wildlife but also highlights the need for sustained exploration, monitoring and conservation efforts in the forests of Northeast India, where the intersection of multiple biogeographic realms continues to yield new and unexpected records.

(PTI)