A New Species of Murina from China (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae)

Three tube-nosed bats (one male and two female) were captured during Chiroptera investigation at the Maolan National Nature Reserve in Libo County, Guizhou Province in July 2016. It was identified as a new species through the morphological and molecular phylogenetic analysis. The new specie differ morphologically, morphometrically, and genetically from previously described species of Murina. Morphological differences include pelage color, size, skull shape and tooth morphology. Analysis of mitochondrial DNA barcodes of the Cytb gene supports valid species status based on divergent phylogenetic lineages. This species has a higher similarity with Murina cyclotis and Murina peninsularis in morphology, however, there are obvious difference in skull morphlogy and phylogenetic relationship among these three species. It is a new species of Murina, and named Murina liboensis sp.nov.