Beelzebub's tube-nosed bat

Beelzebub bat
Beelzebub bat in flight
Not evaluated (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Chiroptera
Suborder: Microchiroptera
Family: Vespertilionidae
Genus: Murina
Species: M. beelzebub
Binomial name
Murina beelzebub
Son, Furey & Csorba, 2011

Beelzebub's tube-nosed bat (Murina beelzebub) , also Beelzebub bat or demon bat, is a species in the vesper bat family Vespertilionidae, found in the Greater Mekong region of Southeast Asia, specifically the Quảng Trị and Gia Lai provinces of Vietnam.[1] They have tube-shaped nostrils (hence the name) which assist them with their feeding.[2]

The Beelzebub bat is one of 126 new species found in the Greater Mekong region during 2011.[3] There were two other tube-nosed bats found in Southeast Asia in 2011: Ashy-gray tube-nosed bat (Murina cineracea) and Walston's tube-nosed bat (Murina walstoni).[2][4][5] All three species are small for bats and M. beelzebub is medium-sized for a Murina bat.[2] These three new tube-nosed bats were discovered by a team from the Hungarian Natural History Museum (HNHM) and Fauna and Flora International (FFI).[6] All three of these bats live in tropical forests, making them endangered by deforestation.[6][7]

It was named "Beelzebub" and "demon" because of its coloration and fierce behavior, alluding the use of the term "Beelzebub" as reference to the underworld in Christian texts.[8] This bat is small enough to fit in a person's hand, weighing 5.3 and 6.0 grams (0.19 and 0.21 oz).[2] Its color pattern is unique for the regional habitat: a white underbelly, black head, and dark back.[9] It lacks the golden guard hairs so common in other members of the genus Murina.[2] Its behavior tends to "flight" before "fight" and it is also quite shy, avoiding human contact. However, if captured they can be very fierce.[10] As of 2013, there are still few details known about them and their ecology and it is suspected there are many more species of bats yet to be discovered in the region.[2][11]

Vespertilionid bats have many cryptic species. Eight new species were found in Southeast Asia between 2005-2009. The use of DNA technology has proved very useful in differentiating between the various species of Murina.[2][9]

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Murina beelzebub.

References

  1. "Murina beelzebub - #1933". American Society of Mammalogists. 2013. Retrieved June 30, 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Csorba, Gabor; Son, Nguyen Truong; Saveng, Ith; Furey, Neil M. (2011). "Revealing Cryptic Bat Diversity: Three New Murina and Redescription of M. tubinaris From Southeast Asia" (PDF). Journal of Mammalogy (American Society of Mammalogists) 92 (4): 891–904. doi:10.1644/10-MAMM-A-269.1.
  3. "New Species Found: Walking catfish, Beelzebub bat and two-legged Lizard". Telegraph. Retrieved June 30, 2013.
  4. "Walking Catfish, Demon Bat Among 126 New Mekong Species". Live Science. December 19, 2012. Retrieved June 30, 2013.
  5. Venton, Danielle (September 2, 2011). "New ‘Demon’ Bat Species Found in Vietnam". Wired. Retrieved June 30, 2013.
  6. 1 2 Catterick, Ally (September 2, 2011). "Three New Bat Species Discovered in Indochina". Fauna and Flora. Retrieved June 30, 2013.
  7. "Beelzebub's Tube-Nosed Bat Discovered in Vietnam". World Wildlife Fund Australia. December 18, 2012. Retrieved June 30, 2013.
  8. "Beelzebub's Tube-Nosed Bat Discovered in Vietnam". Space, Science, Robots. September 11, 2011. Retrieved June 30, 2013.
  9. 1 2 "Three New Species of Murina from Vietnam & Cambodia". Southeast Asian Bat Conservation Research Unit. September 19, 2011. Retrieved June 30, 2013.
  10. Than, Ker (September 9, 2011). "New "Demon" Bat". National Geographic. Retrieved June 30, 2013.
  11. Butler, Rhett (September 2, 2011). "New 'Demon' Bat Discovered in Vietnam". Environmental News Network. Retrieved June 30, 2013.
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