Myotis nimbaensis
Myotis nimbaensis also known as the Orange-furred bat or Nimba Mountain bat is a species of bat in the family Vespertilionidae. The species is endemic to the Nimba Mountains in Guinea, West Africa. It was discovered in 2018 and officially described in 2021 by a team of scientists led by American mammalogist Nancy Simmons.[1][2]
| Myotis nimbaensis | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Chiroptera |
| Family: | Vespertilionidae |
| Genus: | Myotis |
| Species: | M. nimbaensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Myotis nimbaensis Simmons et al., 2021 | |
Description
Myotis nimbaensis has orange fur with black dichromatic wing pigmentation. It lives in natural caves and adits (abandoned mine shafts) in the Nimba mountain range.[2]
Diet
The diet of M. nimbaensis is unknown.[1]
Similar species
While M. nimbaensis is visually similar to Welwitsch's bat, it most genetically resembles the Cape hairy bat.[1]
Habitat
M. nimbaensis is believed to only inhabit a small geographic range, limited to the top of the mountain range, which may mean that it will be listed as Critically Endangered once more information about it is known.[1][3]
References
- Simmons, Nancy B.; Flanders, Jon; Bakwo Fils, Eric Moïse; Parker, Guy; Suter, Jamison D.; Bamba, Seinan; Douno, Mory; Keita, Mamady Kobele; Morales, Ariadna E.; Frick, Winifred F. (2021-01-13). "A new dichromatic species of Myotis (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) from the Nimba Mountains, Guinea". American Museum Novitates. 3963: 1–37. ISSN 0003-0082.
- "Scientists Find New Bat in West African "Sky Islands"". American Museum of Natural History. 13 Jan 2021.
- Nuwer, Rachel (2021-01-13). "New Bat Species With Orangutan Hue Discovered in West Africa". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-01-14.