Beelzebub's tube-nosed bat

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Beelzebub bat
File:Beelzebub bat 1.jpg
Beelzebub bat in flight
Not evaluated (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Class:
Mammalia
Order:
Chiroptera
Suborder:
Microchiroptera
Family:
Vespertilionidae
Genus:
Murina
Species:
M. beelzebub
Binomial name
Murina beelzebub
Son, Furey & Csorba, 2011

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Beelzebub's tube-nosed bat (Murina beelzebub) , also Beelzebub bat or demon bat, is a species in the vesper bat family Vespertilionidae, found in the Greater Mekong region of Southeast Asia, specifically the Quảng Trị and Gia Lai provinces of Vietnam.[1] They have tube-shaped nostrils (hence the name) which assist them with their feeding.[2]

The Beelzebub bat is one of 126 new species found in the Greater Mekong region during 2011.[3] There were two other tube-nosed bats found in Southeast Asia in 2011: Ashy-gray tube-nosed bat (Murina cineracea) and Walston's tube-nosed bat (Murina walstoni).[2][4][5] All three species are small for bats and M. beelzebub is medium-sized for a Murina bat.[2] These three new tube-nosed bats were discovered by a team from the Hungarian Natural History Museum (HNHM) and Fauna and Flora International (FFI).[6] All three of these bats live in tropical forests, making them endangered by deforestation.[6][7]

It was named "Beelzebub" and "demon" because of its coloration and fierce behavior, alluding the use of the term "Beelzebub" as reference to the underworld in Christian texts.[8] This bat is small enough to fit in a person's hand, weighing 5.3 and 6.0 grams (0.19 and 0.21 oz).[2] Its color pattern is unique for the regional habitat: a white underbelly, black head, and dark back.[9] It lacks the golden guard hairs so common in other members of the genus Murina.[2] Its behavior tends to "flight" before "fight" and it is also quite shy, avoiding human contact. However, if captured they can be very fierce.[10] As of 2013, there are still few details known about them and their ecology and it is suspected there are many more species of bats yet to be discovered in the region.[2][11]

Vespertilionid bats have many cryptic species. Eight new species were found in Southeast Asia between 2005-2009. The use of DNA technology has proved very useful in differentiating between the various species of Murina.[2][9]

See also

References

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  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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