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Range extension and species confirmation of Rhyneptesicus nasutus (Sind Serotine Bat) (Mammalia:Chiroptera) from Bajaur Agency, FATA, Pakistan

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Abstract

Background

The lack of morphological differentiation among chiropteran species and cryptic speciation impedes species identification. DNA-based approaches help species identification and contribute to the discovery of additional species. Rhyneptesicus nasutus (Sind Serotine Bat) is a rare and poorly studied species in Pakistan.

Methods

This study explores the range extension of Sind Bat within the territorial limits of Pakistan from Sind and Baluchistan to Federally Administered Areas of Pakistan. No molecular record exists for the species in Pakistan. In the present study, we for the first time confirm species identification of Rhyneptesicus nasutus from Pakistan using a genetic marker (cytochrome b) along with morphometric analysis. A neighbor-joining tree based on Kimura-2 parameters was created to infer phylogenetic relationships. We sequenced the cytochrome b gene segment and conducted a phylogenetic analysis with previously published data from other countries.

Results

Sequences from Pakistan formed a clade with Iranian Rhyneptesicus nasutus specimens suggesting a common ancestry. Various morphometric parameters (mean values) were measured, including Head and Body length (44.3 mm), Tail length (43.4 mm), Hindfoot length (8.3 mm), Forearm length (35.7 mm), and Ear length 36 mm while 5th Metacarpal Length, 4th Metacarpal Length, and 3rd Metacarpal Lengths were 33.2 mm, 34.7 mm, and 35.3 mm. Approaches based on DNA barcoding reveal a high diversity of bat species in the study area.

Conclusion

The data will enable researchers to build an improved evolutionary framework of the Serotine Bats from this region and subsequently reconstruct a detailed evolutionary history of the genus. Further research is required to test other molecular markers to support the findings of the current study in Pakistan.

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Funding

No funding was received from anybody. All the expenditures for research work were supported by the authors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Wildlife and Ecology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan

    Muhammad Idnan, Arshad Javid & Ali Hussain

  2. Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Life Science, University of Central Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan

    Sajid Mansoor

  3. Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan

    Muhammad Imran & Arif Ullah

  4. Department of Zoology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Central Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan

    Muhammad Idnan & Muhammad Babar Khawar

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  1. Muhammad Idnan
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  2. Sajid Mansoor
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  3. Muhammad Babar Khawar
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  4. Arshad Javid
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  5. Ali Hussain
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  6. Muhammad Imran
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Correspondence to Muhammad Idnan.

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The author(s) declares that the animals used in this research work were handled with ethical standards for animal care and use in research approved by Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan.

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Idnan, M., Mansoor, S., Khawar, M.B. et al. Range extension and species confirmation of Rhyneptesicus nasutus (Sind Serotine Bat) (Mammalia:Chiroptera) from Bajaur Agency, FATA, Pakistan. Mol Biol Rep 49, 1791–1797 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-021-06989-4

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