New bat species discovered in Mindoro
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Luis
Mar 13, 2008, 8:42:14 PM3/13/08
to Philippine environment conservation
Special Features (as of 9/17/2007 12:30 AM)
New bat species discovered in Mindoro
By KATHERINE ADRANEDA
The Philippine Star
A new species of flying fox, or large fruit bat, believed found
nowhere else in the world, was discovered in Mindoro, the Protected
Areas and Wildlife Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural
Resources (DENR) announced Sunday.
PAWB director Dr. Mundita Lim said the new fruit bat species has been
discovered in Mindoro Island since February 2006, during a
collaborative effort between the government and the University of
Kansas Biodiversity Research Center.
Lim said a team from the Comparative Biogeography and Conservation of
Philippine Vertebrates (CBCPV) project conducted an expedition in
Mindoro Occidental early last year that led to the discovery of the
new fruit bat species, which has been named as the "Mindoro Stripe-
Faced Fruitbat" for its striking facial features and the island on
which it was found.
"A local resident of Sablayan first described the flying fox in great
detail to us, but we were unconvinced until the species showed up in
our nets," said CBCPV mammologist Jake Esselstyn.
According to Lim, the CBCPV team was conducting a survey of mammals,
reptiles, and amphibians in Sablayan, when it found the unusual bat.
The scientific description of the new species, Styloctenium
mindorensis, was published last week in the Journal of Mammalogy.
Lim said the discovery of the new fruit bat species brings the total
number of bat species in the Philippines to 74. Of the 74, she noted,
26 bat species are now found only in the Philippines.
"The bat is very colorful; most of its hair is orange and it sports
three white stripes on its face as well as a black beard, which
distinguishes it from all other known fruit bats," she said.
"This discovery is illustrative of how little we know about Philippine
biodiversity and the need for continued research all over the
country," she added.
The new flying fox is known to be only from Sablayan, Occidental
Mindoro but the CBCPV team is hopeful that the bat will be found in
other areas of the province.
Another bat species from Mindoro is under study by CBCPV team members
and is thought to be new to science as well, Lim revealed.
The new species joins other mammal species like the Tamaraw, which is
known to be endemic (or restricted) to Mindoro.
New bat species discovered in Mindoro
By KATHERINE ADRANEDA
The Philippine Star
A new species of flying fox, or large fruit bat, believed found
nowhere else in the world, was discovered in Mindoro, the Protected
Areas and Wildlife Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural
Resources (DENR) announced Sunday.
PAWB director Dr. Mundita Lim said the new fruit bat species has been
discovered in Mindoro Island since February 2006, during a
collaborative effort between the government and the University of
Kansas Biodiversity Research Center.
Lim said a team from the Comparative Biogeography and Conservation of
Philippine Vertebrates (CBCPV) project conducted an expedition in
Mindoro Occidental early last year that led to the discovery of the
new fruit bat species, which has been named as the "Mindoro Stripe-
Faced Fruitbat" for its striking facial features and the island on
which it was found.
"A local resident of Sablayan first described the flying fox in great
detail to us, but we were unconvinced until the species showed up in
our nets," said CBCPV mammologist Jake Esselstyn.
According to Lim, the CBCPV team was conducting a survey of mammals,
reptiles, and amphibians in Sablayan, when it found the unusual bat.
The scientific description of the new species, Styloctenium
mindorensis, was published last week in the Journal of Mammalogy.
Lim said the discovery of the new fruit bat species brings the total
number of bat species in the Philippines to 74. Of the 74, she noted,
26 bat species are now found only in the Philippines.
"The bat is very colorful; most of its hair is orange and it sports
three white stripes on its face as well as a black beard, which
distinguishes it from all other known fruit bats," she said.
"This discovery is illustrative of how little we know about Philippine
biodiversity and the need for continued research all over the
country," she added.
The new flying fox is known to be only from Sablayan, Occidental
Mindoro but the CBCPV team is hopeful that the bat will be found in
other areas of the province.
Another bat species from Mindoro is under study by CBCPV team members
and is thought to be new to science as well, Lim revealed.
The new species joins other mammal species like the Tamaraw, which is
known to be endemic (or restricted) to Mindoro.
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