Molecular Phylogeny of Mouse-Tailed Bats (Chiroptera: Rhinopomatidae): Evolutionary Insights Into a Desert-Dwelling Family

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F00023272%3A_____%2F25%3A10136844" target="_blank" >RIV/00023272:_____/25:10136844 - isvavai.cz</a>

Alternative codes found

RIV/68081766:_____/25:00637333 RIV/00216208:11310/25:10508243

Result on the web

<a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/zsc.70002" target="_blank" >https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/zsc.70002</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/zsc.70002" target="_blank" >10.1111/zsc.70002</a>

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

Molecular Phylogeny of Mouse-Tailed Bats (Chiroptera: Rhinopomatidae): Evolutionary Insights Into a Desert-Dwelling Family

Original language description

The family Rhinopomatidae comprises six species of mouse-tailed bats within the genus Rhinopoma, inhabiting arid regions of the Old World from western Africa to Myanmar. While their phylogenetic relationships have been explored through morphology and molecular analyses, many populations still remain insufficiently studied using molecular approaches. This study aims to analyse samples representing all species and populations within the family, employing one mitochondrial and four nuclear genetic markers. These sequences were used to construct phylogenetic trees, estimate divergence times and evaluate biogeographic patterns. Our results revealed the presence of five major genetic lineages within Rhinopoma. Notably, the morphologically distinct East African R. macinnesi was genetically embedded within R. cystops, suggesting synonymisation of the former name and expanding the distribution range of R. cystops southward into eastern Africa. The study also identified greater mitochondrial diversity compared to nuclear markers, uncovering nine mitochondrial lineages across the family, including three polytypic species: R. cystops, R. hardwickii and R. muscatellum. Divergence time estimation placed the family&apos;s origin at approximately 45 million years ago. Initial diversification into current species occurred 9.5 million years ago, likely originating in the Arabian Peninsula or Iran, regions that still host the highest diversity of Rhinopoma. This study provides the most comprehensive molecular phylogeny of Rhinopomatidae to date, reducing the recognised species count to five and offering new insights into the evolutionary history and biogeography of this desert-adapted bat family.

Czech name

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Czech description

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Type

J_imp - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database

CEP classification

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OECD FORD branch

10613 - Zoology

Project

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Continuities

I - Institucionalni podpora na dlouhodoby koncepcni rozvoj vyzkumne organizace

Publication year

2025

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Name of the periodical

Zoologica Scripta

ISSN

0300-3256

e-ISSN

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Volume of the periodical

54

Issue of the periodical within the volume

6

Country of publishing house

NO - NORWAY

Number of pages

17

Pages from-to

800-816

UT code for WoS article

001523720200001

EID of the result in the Scopus database

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