Researchers have documented a major scientific discovery, bringing six new species of bats to light in a biodiversity hot spot. This discovery adds to the country’s already remarkable biodiversity. It’s the Murina genus from which scientists recently described six new species of tube-nosed bats. The new species are Murina alvarezi, Murina baletei, Murina hilonghilong, Murina luzonensis, Murina mindorensis, and Murina philippinensis. As a result of this find, the Philippines now boasts 85 species of bats. It’s a major accomplishment, all the more notable considering that the country had previously only recorded two species of tube-nosed bats!
The Field Museum has been indispensable in this discovery. For the past 30 years, it has focused almost exclusively on the Philippine Mammal Project, doing field work all across the archipelago. The joint project was initially funded through a collaboration with the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) and Lawrence University in Wisconsin. To discover these new species, the researchers integrated genetic analysis with in-depth morphological examination. This effort underscores the importance of both classical and new scientific approaches to understanding the crisis in biodiversity.
Discovering Diversity in the Philippines
The Philippines has an amazing diversity of habitats. From coral reefs to mountain meadows, these ecosystems provide essential habitat for an astonishing array of species. The Philippine archipelago is already home to 79 species of bats. The recent arrival of six new species underlines its exceptional biodiversity. As Dr. Lawrence Heaney points out, “On a per-unit-area basis, the Philippines has the most distinctive mammal fauna of any country worldwide.” Further, that same biodiversity combined with the region’s cultural heterogeneity makes it an epicenter for scientific research and conservation studies.
The recently discovered tube-nosed bats are minute mammals, each weighing just 4-14 grams. Roosting habitat is difficult to come by, as bats are dependent on large forested areas. This dependence highlights the importance of protecting these habitats to conserve bat populations and the environment at large. The research team thinks that, given the Philippines’ complex forest ecosystems, it will find plenty of new species. With that momentum, they look forward to restoring biodiversity to this unique region.
“It has been a long and slow process of discovery, but these six previously unknown species show clearly just how wonderfully extensive Philippine biodiversity is.” – Dr. Lawrence Heaney
The six species are represented in tribute to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to advancing the research on bats. Murina alvarezi is named in honor of James Alvarez, an enthusiastic young bat biologist who tragically lost his life while conducting fieldwork in 2018. In the same way, Murina baletei pays tribute to the great Filipino biodiversity scientist Danilo (Danny) Balete.
The Role of Collaboration in Research
It’s taken the combined efforts of collaborating researchers from a number of institutions to reveal these new species. Through decades of expeditions and diligent fieldwork, they gathered an impressive collection of tube-nosed bats, reaching their peak with this important discovery. “These bats are notoriously elusive, so the tube-nosed bat collection this study examined was cobbled together over many years, expeditions, and memorable experiences—one bat at a time,” said Dr. Jodi Sedlock.
This statement is a testament to the commitment involved in studying such hard-to-find species and it emphasizes the detail-oriented nature of biodiversity research. The researchers collected around 15,000 frozen tissue specimens from 30 countries worldwide, representing 15 of the world’s 21 bat families. This comprehensive collection will provide a wealth of information to guide future studies and conservation efforts.
“As a result, it’s deeply satisfying to see our collection make such an important contribution to Philippine biodiversity studies.” – Dr. Jodi Sedlock
Dr Burton Lim, co-author of the study, said he was surprised at just how little we know about bat species around the world. “I’m astonished at how much we still don’t know about the natural world, such as how many bat species there are,” he stated. It was found that prior to this study, only two tube-nosed bat species have been recorded in the Philippines.
Future Directions for Bat Research
Now that these new tube-nosed bats are confirmed as distinct species, the opportunities for further research are just beginning. One of the goals of scientists is to decode these unique adaptations of these bats, like their distinct tube-like nostrils. Dr. Jodi Sedlock expressed eagerness to learn about their ecological roles: “I’m eager to learn what these newly described tube-nosed bats each do with their tube-like nostrils that, presumably, offer them directional smell detection.”
That excitement speaks to the incredible momentum within the research community to learn more about the state of our biodiversity and what it means for conservation. Dr. Judith Eger emphasized the importance of understanding our coexistence with various species: “This latest research serves to illustrate how much remains unknown about the countless species with which we coexist.” She added that increasing public understanding of the value of biodiversity is key to ensuring we are managing our home in a sustainable way.
“Expanding our knowledge of biodiversity is essential to understanding and managing our environment on behalf of humanity and the other species on which the vitality of our planet depends.” – Dr. Judith Eger