Himalayan Long-tailed Myotis, Habitat, Features, Latest News

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Himalayan Long-Tailed Myotis Latest News

Recently, researchers have discovered a new species of bat named Himalayan long-tailed Myotis (Myotis himalaicus).

It is a new species of bat found in the Western Himalayan region.
It belongs to a group of morphologically similar species called the Myotis frater complex, which has a wide distribution from eastern China, Taiwan, central and southeastern Siberia, Korea, Japan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
Habitat: The Himalayan long-tailed Myotis, which inhabits Deodar, Pine, and Cedar forests, appears to be a rare species native to the southern slopes of the Himalayas.
Distribution: These bats have been found in Uttarakhand, India, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.

It is considered “medium-sized,” reaching about 3.5 inches in length and weighing less than an ounce
They have “delicate” feet and “relatively long” thumbs ending in “a strong but short claw.” Their heads have “short” ears and “rather delicate” teeth.

Bats contribute to overall biodiversity and the health of ecosystems.
Insect Predators: Throughout the night, bats devour insects in farms, fields, forests, grasslands and around our homes, including agricultural pests and disease-causing mosquitoes.
Bat droppings (guano) mined from caves are widely used as a fertilizer for agricultural crops as they have high concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorous.
Pollinators: Some bats sip nectar, pollinate flowers, eat fruits, and spread the seeds of many important tree species.