The Kachin woolly bat (Kerivoula kachinensis) is a species of bat found in Southeast Asia.

Kachin woolly bat
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Chiroptera
Family: Vespertilionidae
Genus: Kerivoula
Species:
K. kachinensis
Binomial name
Kerivoula kachinensis
Bates, Struebig, Rossiter, Kingston, Sia Sein Lein Oo & Khin Mya Mya, 2004

Taxonomy and etymology

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It was initially described as a new species in 2004. Its species name "kachinensis" is derived from Kachin State—the state in Myanmar where it was first documented.[2]

Description

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It is a relatively large member of its genus, with a forearm length of 41.3 mm (1.63 in). Individuals weigh approximately 7 g (0.25 oz). Its fur is grayish-brown. Its ears are large and hairless. The tragus is long and narrow, at 9.5 mm (0.37 in). Its tail is 54 mm (2.1 in) long. Its skull has a flattened appearance. Its dental formula is 2.1.3.33.1.3.3 for a total of 38 teeth.[2]

Biology and ecology

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It is nocturnal, roosting during the day and foraging at night. The state of its flattened skull led some researchers to hypothesize that during the day it roosts in small, constricted spaces.[2]

Range and habitat

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It was first documented in Myanmar in 2004, but its range was quickly expanded to Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Thailand after documentation in 2006.[3][4]

Conservation

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It is currently assessed as least concern by the IUCN—its lowest conservation priority. It meets the criteria for this assessment because it has a large range, no major threats to this species have been identified, and it is not likely to be declining quickly.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b Bates, P.J.J.; Thong, V.D.; Soisook, P. (2019). "Kerivoula kachinensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T136240A22001145. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T136240A22001145.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b c Bates, P. J.; Struebig, M. J.; Rossiter, S. J.; Kingston, T.; Oo, S. S. L.; Mya, K. M. (2004). "A new species of Kerivoula (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) from Myanmar (Burma)". Acta Chiropterologica. 6 (2): 219–226. doi:10.3161/001.006.0203. S2CID 83904066.
  3. ^ Soisook, P.; Bumrungsri, S.; Dejtaradol, A.; Francis, C. M.; Csorba, G.; Guillén-Servent, A.; Bates, P. J. (2007). "First records of Kerivoula kachinensis (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) from Cambodia, Lao PDR and Thailand" (PDF). Acta Chiropterologica. 9 (2): 339–345. doi:10.3161/1733-5329(2007)9[339:FROKKC]2.0.CO;2. S2CID 86524144.
  4. ^ Thong, V. D.; Bumrungsri, S.; Harrison, D. L.; Pearch, M. J.; Helgen, K. M.; Bates, P. J. (2006). "New records of Microchiroptera (Rhinolophidae and Kerivoulinae) from Vietnam and Thailand" (PDF). Acta Chiropterologica. 8 (1): 83–93. doi:10.3161/1733-5329(2006)8[83:NROMRA]2.0.CO;2. S2CID 55280684.
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