New sucker-footed bat discovered in Madagascar 5 January 2007 Scientists have discovered a new species of bat "For now, we do not have to worry as much about that has large flat adhesive organs, or suckers, the future of Myzopoda," said Steven M. Goodman, attached to its thumbs and hind feet. Field Museum field biologist and lead author of the study. "We can put conservation efforts on behalf of This is a remarkable find because the new bat this bat on the backburner because it is able to live belongs to a Family of bats endemic to in areas that have been completely degraded, Madagascar--and one that was previously contrary to what is indicated or inferred in the considered to include only one rare species. The current literature." new species, Myzopoda schliemanni, occurs only in the dry western forests of Madagascar, while the This underlines the importance of basic scientific previously known species, Myzopoda aurita, research for establishing the priorities for occurs only in the humid eastern forests of conservation programs and assessments of Madagascar, according to new research recently presumed rare and possibly endangered animals, published online in the journal Mammalian the study concludes. Biology. Due to the physical similarities between M. The new species is obviously different from the schliemanni and M. aurita, the researchers known species based on pelage coloration, concluded that one species probably evolved from external measurements and cranial characteristics, the other, most likely after the bat dispersed across according to the researchers. the island from east to west. Myzopoda are often found in association with Bats are the last group of land mammals on broad-leaf plants, most notably Ravenala Madagascar that have not been intensively studied, madagascariensis or the Travelers' Palm, a plant Goodman said. "Until a decade ago, these animals that is endemic to Madagascar but has been remained largely understudied. On the basis of introduced to numerous tropical countries. recent surveys and taxonomic research, about one- Myzopoda are found in association with such third of the island's bat species were unknown to plants because they can use their suckers to climb scientists until a few years ago, and the majority of and adhere to the leaves' flat, slick surface. They these are new to science." are presumed to roost in the leaves during the day. Only about eight percent of Madagascar's original forest cover remains, as the forests continue to be Myzopoda were considered endangered because cleared by associated subsistence agricultural of their limited distribution and the notion that the activities and to provide wood energy for urban family included only one species. The new zones. The island, which is found off the eastern research, however, modifies both of these ideas. coast of Africa, remains one of the most critically threatened areas in the world, in terms of The researchers determined that Myzopoda is not biodiversity. Madagascar has a higher level of endangered by the loss of the moist tropical forests endemism (with plants and animals found nowhere because the bat appears to have adapted very well else) than any other landmass in the world of to the large broad-leaf Ravenala that are often comparable size. "Still today, you can go out and pioneering plants in zones where the original discover things in Madagascar that have never forests have been cleared and burned. before been seen by scientists," Goodman said. "The sense of discovery is almost levitating." 1 / 2 Source: Field Museum APA citation: New sucker-footed bat discovered in Madagascar (2007, January 5) retrieved 29 September 2021 from https://phys.org/news/2007-01-sucker-footed-madagascar.html This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only. 2 / 2 Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org).