A preliminary assessment of the bat fauna (Mammalia: Chiroptera) of Murlen National Park, Mizoram, India: distribution, morphology, and echolocation

Abstract

As part of a faunal documentation work in Murlen National Park in Mizoram, two field surveys were conducted in the park area and its immediate periphery which resulted in capture of 39 individuals of bats. Based on these captures and a previous published record, 14 bat species belonging to nine genera and three families were recorded from the study area. Despite lesser sampling coverage and shorter duration of the surveys, uncommon and little-known species like Arielulus circumdatus, Kerivoula cf. hardwickii, Myotis annectans, Myotis montivagus, and Mirostrellus joffrei were recorded, thereby highlighting the rich assemblage of chiropteran fauna and also the need for effective protection of the area. Based on the collected samples, five species—Rhinolophus affinis, R. perniger, Myotis annectans, Pipistrellus javanicus, and Mirostrellus joffrei—are first recorded from Mizoram state. The echolocation call structures of four of the recorded species from the study area are also presented. We have also provided an updated checklist of the bat fauna of Mizoram state comprising 35 species of five families.