FIRST RECORD OF THE LESSER MOUSE-TAILED BAT Rhinopoma hardwickii (RHINOPOMATIDAE: CHIROPTERA) FROM SOUTHERN PUNJAB, PAKISTAN
A. Javid, M. Mahmood-ul-Hassan*, M. S. Nadeem**, N. Rana* and N. Khan***
Department of Wildlife and Ecology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore
*Department of Zoology and Fisheries, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad.
**Department of Zoology, PMAS – University of Arid Agriculture, Rawalpindi.
***Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore
Corresponding Author e-mail: drmmhassan1@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
The lesser mouse-tailed bat Rhinopoma hardwickii Gray, 1831 has not been recorded from Pakistan except from northern Punjab (Rohtas) and southern Sindh (Karachi, Landhi and Karchat Hills near Hyderabad). These records date back to 1927. Here after 84 years, we provide an account of the third country and first record of this species from southern Punjab. Rhinopomatid bats (n =5) were captured from this region of which two were euthanized to describe their external body, cranial and bacular measurements. This paper compares various morphometeric measurements of these bats to those already mentioned in literatures and documents habitat and new distribution map of this species in Pakistan.
Key words: Bacula, Cellar, Forearm length, Noor Mahal, Skull, Bahawalpur.
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