A new species of vespertilionid bat from Taiwan and a revision of the taxonomic status of Arielulus and Thainycteris (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae)

Abstract

On morphological and chromosomal grounds Pipistrellus (Arielulus) subgenus is elevated to generic rank and the recently described genus Thainycteris has been synonymized with Arielulus. Besides this taxonomic revision, a new species of bat Arielulus torquatus is described from the central mountains of Taiwan which differs from its congeners chie¯y by its size and colouration.