Murina chayuensis Luo & Zhou, 2025

Luo, Pengfei, Mao, Mingle, Yan, Chengrui, He, Qingqing, Yang, Qin, Deng, Huaiqing, Xiao, Ning & Zhou, Jiang, 2025, A new species of the genus Murina (Chiroptera, Vespertilionidae) from the Southeastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, China, Zoosystematics and Evolution 101 (3), pp. 983-997 : 983-997

publication ID	https://doi.org/10.3897/zse.101.147349
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:9118927A-11E3-4556-B671-7F43D01D5111
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15538059
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/E5DBCCCB-7E64-5819-963A-82A39180EC70
treatment provided by	Zoosystematics and Evolution by Pensoft
scientific name	Murina chayuensis Luo & Zhou
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Murina chayuensis Luo & Zhou sp. nov.

Figs 3 View Figure 3 , 4 View Figure 4 , Suppl. material 1: table S 1

Materials.

Holotype. • XZ 2023107 (36.51 mm FA and 16.83 mm GTL; Figs 3 View Figure 3 , 4 View Figure 4 ) was collected by Pengfei Luo and Jiang Zhou on 17 August 2023, in Chayu County, Linzhi City , Xizang, China (28°29'51.12"N, 97°0'53.87"E, 1511 m a. s. l; Fig. 1 View Figure 1 ) GoogleMaps . Paratypes. • Four specimens ( XZ 2023085 , XZ 2023086 , XZ 2023088 , and XZ 2023100 ) were collected by Pengfei Luo and Jiang Zhou from the same locality as the holotype (28°29'51.12"N, 97°0'53.87"E, 1511 m a. s. l GoogleMaps ; 28°29'1.47"N, 97°1'23.07"E, 1613 m a. s. l; Fig. 1 View Figure 1 ).

Etymology.

We discovered a new species in Chayu County that we named Murina chayuensis sp. nov. We propose the common English name “ Chayu Tube-Nosed Bat ” and the Chinese name “ chá yú guǎn bí fú (察隅管鼻蝠). ”

Diagnosis.

The new species is a medium-sized bat in the genus Murina (FA: 33.49–36.51 mm; Table 2 View Table 2 and Suppl. material 1: table S 1). Dorsal fur overall displays a tan color, with a few reddish-brown guard hairs. Dorsal fur has two color bands: black at the base and tan at the tip (Fig. 3 A, B View Figure 3 ). Ventral fur overall is pale, with two color bands, a dark base covering approximately two-thirds and a whitish tip covering approximately one-third (Fig. 3 C View Figure 3 ). The plagiopatagium is almost attached to the base of the claw (Fig. 3 D View Figure 3 ). The skull is domed (Fig. 4 C View Figure 4 ). The sagittal crest is absent, and the lambdoid crest is weakly developed (Fig. 4 A, C View Figure 4 ). The first upper incisor (I 2) is obscured by the second upper incisor (I 3) in lateral view (Fig. 4 C View Figure 4 ). The mesostyles of the first and second upper molars (M 1 and M 2) are well developed, with distinct cusps, and there is a W-shaped indentation on the outer side of the molars (Fig. 4 B View Figure 4 ). The basal area of the second upper premolar (P 4) is comparable to that of the upper canine (C 1), whereas the basal area of the first upper premolar (P 2) is approximately two-thirds that of P 4 (Fig. 4 B View Figure 4 ). The basal area of the lower M 1 and M 2 talonids is two-thirds of their respective trigonids, and the M 3 talonid is half of its trigonid (Fig. 4 D, E View Figure 4 ).

In the phylogenetic analyses (Fig. 2 View Figure 2 ), all specimens of Murina chayuensis sp. nov. formed a clade and a distinct lineage sister to M. pluvialis with a posterior probability of 1, indicating that Murina chayuensis sp. nov. and M. pluvialis have differentiated but share a close phylogenetic relationship. However, the genetic distance between Murina chayuensis sp. nov. and M. pluvialis was 0.09, a value that is greater than those between M. fanjingshanensis and M. bicolor (0.08), between M. liboensis and M. cyclotis (0.08), between M. suilla and M. florium (0.08), and between M. eleryi and M. gracilis (0.08) (Table 1 View Table 1 ). Therefore, the validity of Murina chayuensis sp. nov. as a distinct species is established.

Description.

Murina chayuensis sp. nov. possesses a “ cyclotis - type ” dentition, characterized by the I 3 obscuring the I 2, with the basal area of P 2 being two-thirds or more than that of P 4 ( Corbet and Hill 1992; Koopman, 1994; Francis et al. 2010; Son et al. 2015). There is black facial hair surrounding the mouth and eyes (Fig. 3 A View Figure 3 ). There is a rounded auricle with no visible incision on the posterior edge (Fig. 3 A View Figure 3 ). On the dorsal surface, the hair color displays two bands, being black at the base and tan at the tip, with a few reddish-brown guard hairs (Fig. 3 A, B View Figure 3 ). The upper surfaces of the uropatagium, hind limbs, and feet are densely covered in uniformly tan hairs. Short golden hairs occur on the dorsum of the forearms and thumbs but not on the metacarpals. On the ventral surface, the hairs are also bicolored, dark brown at the base and whitish at the tip (Fig. 3 C View Figure 3 ). The plagiopatagium is attached to the base of the claw (Fig. 3 D View Figure 3 ).

The skull is medium-sized, with a GTL of 15.75–16.83 mm. The CM 3 L is 5.14–6.06 mm, which is 0.31–0.37 of the GTL (Table 2 View Table 2 and Suppl. material 1: table S 1). The rostrum is flat, and the braincase is domed (Fig. 4 C View Figure 4 ), with a relatively high braincase (BCH / BCW: ‾ x = 0.98; sd = 0.07; range = 0.87–1.06; n = 5; Table 2 View Table 2 and Suppl. material 1: table S 1). The interorbital region is deeply concave (Fig. 4 A View Figure 4 ). The forehead is slowly and smoothly rising from the rostrum to the braincase (Fig. 4 C View Figure 4 ). The zygoma is not strong without a dorsal process (Fig. 4 C View Figure 4 ). The prepalatal emargination is equal in depth and width, ending at the level of middle of the upper canine (C 1) (Fig. 4 A, B View Figure 4 ). The postpalatal emargination is width over depth (Fig. 4 B View Figure 4 ). A pair of basisphenoid pits are well defined, tear-drop shaped, and deep. (Fig. 4 B View Figure 4 ). The sagittal crest is absent, and the lambdoid crest is weakly developed (Fig. 4 A, C View Figure 4 ). The maxillary toothrows are convergent anteriorly (C 1 C 1 W / M 1 M 1 W: ‾ x = 0.69; sd = 0.02; range = 0.68–0.73; n = 5). The dental formula is I 2 / 3 C 1 / 1 P 2 / 2 M 3 / 3 = 34 (Fig. 4 B, D View Figure 4 ). The I 2 is largely obscured by I 3 in the side view (Fig. 4 C View Figure 4 ). P 2 is shorter than P 4; P 4 is approximately two-thirds of C 1, and P 2 is half of C 1 in height (Fig. 4 C View Figure 4 ). The basal area of P 4 is comparable to that of C 1 (Fig. 4 B View Figure 4 ). The paracones of the first and second upper molars (M 1 and M 2) are higher than their respective metacones. The third upper molar (M 3) retains only the paracone, parastyle, and protocone. The mesostyles of M 1 and M 2 are well developed, with distinct cusps. There is a W-shaped indentation on the labial sides of M 1 and M 2 (Fig. 4 B, C View Figure 4 ).

The mandible is delicate, with 10.22–11.55 mm of ML (Table 2 View Table 2 and Suppl. material 1: table S 1). The CM 3 L is 5.23–6.67 mm, which is 0.48–0.61 of ML (Table 2 View Table 2 and Suppl. material 1: table S 1). C 1 is higher than the lower first and second premolars (P 2 and P 4) (Fig. 4 E View Figure 4 ). P 2 and P 4 are subequal in height (Fig. 4 E View Figure 4 ). The basal area of P 2 is approximately two-thirds that of P 4 (Fig. 4 D View Figure 4 ). The lower first and second molars (M 1 and M 2) possess the structural type of nyctalodonty (Fig. 4 D View Figure 4 ). The entoconids of M 1 and M 2 are developed, with distinct cusps (Fig. 4 D View Figure 4 ). The basal area of the lower M 1 and M 2 talonids is two-third their respective trigonids, and the M 3 talonid is half of its trigonid (Fig. 4 D, E View Figure 4 ).

Comparisons with other taxa.

Murina chayuensis sp. nov. possesses “ cyclotis - type ” dentition. Therefore, it is readily distinguished from all species with the “ suilla - type ” dentition. Within all recognized species that have “ cyclotis - type ” dentition, M. liboensis and M. rozendaali are much smaller and can be easily distinguished from the new species (FA lower than 33.5 mm; Table 2 View Table 2 ). M. harrisoni , M. tiensa , M. cyclotis , M. fionae , M. guilleni , and M. peninsularis either possess unicolored pale fur or indistinct color bands on the ventral side (vs. distinct bicolor; Fig. 3 C View Figure 3 ), and they possess a developed sagittal crest (vs. absent; Figs 4 A, C View Figure 4 , 5 B – E, I, L View Figure 5 ). Compared with Murina chayuensis sp. nov., M. harrisoni and M. tiensa also have larger skulls, longer CM 3 L and CM 3 L (Table 2 View Table 2 ), and a flatter braincase (vs. domed; Figs 4 C View Figure 4 , 5 E, L View Figure 5 ). In addition, M. cyclotis , M. fionae , M. guilleni , and M. peninsularis lack mesostyles of M 1 and M 2 (vs. developed; Figs 4 B View Figure 4 , 5 B – D, I View Figure 5 ). Of the above species, only M. cyclotis occurs in the southeastern QTP and adjacent areas (Fig. 1 View Figure 1 ); this species can also be distinguished from Murina chayuensis sp. nov. by smaller FA (Table 2 View Table 2 ) and more developed P 2 (basal area: P 2 and P 4 are equal in M. cyclotis vs. P 2 is two-thirds of P 4 in Murina chayuensis sp. nov.; Figs 4 B View Figure 4 , 5 B View Figure 5 ).

Other Murina species possess “ cyclotis - type ” dentition that is distributed in the southeastern QTP, including M. huttonii and M. pluvialis . The ear of M. huttonii is longer at 16.20–17.40 mm (vs. 13.72–14.82 mm; Table 2 View Table 2 ); the interfemoral membrane is extensively covered with reddish-brown hairs (vs. absent); and the skull is longer, with GTL 17.90–18.40 mm (vs. 15.75–16.83 mm; Table 2 View Table 2 ). Furthermore, the prepalatal emargination is shallower, closing to the junction of C 1 and P 2 (vs. middle of C 1; Figs 4 B View Figure 4 , 5 F View Figure 5 ); the talonids of M 1 and M 2 are only slightly less than their respective trigonids in length (vs. two-thirds; Fig. 4 D View Figure 4 ). M. pluvialis as a sister taxon to M. chayuensis sp. nov. (Fig. 2 View Figure 2 ), and these two species are similar in body size (Table 2 View Table 2 ). However, M. pluvialis has bright red dorsal fur without shiny guard hairs and silvery gray hair ventrally, clearly distinguishing it from the new species (vs. tan in the dorsal and whitish in the ventral hair, with the presence of reddish-brown guard hairs; Fig. 3 A – C View Figure 3 ); the sagittal and lambdoid crests are more developed (vs. absent and weak; Figs 4 A, C View Figure 4 , 5 J View Figure 5 ). Furthermore, the crown area between P 2 and P 4 has a distinct gap (vs. indistinct; Figs 4 C View Figure 4 , 5 J View Figure 5 ); the mesostyles of M 1 and M 2 are reduced (vs. well developed; Figs 4 B View Figure 4 , 5 J View Figure 5 ); and the indentation in the labial side is more U-shaped from the ventral view (vs. W-shaped; Figs 4 B View Figure 4 , 5 J View Figure 5 ). In addition, the talonids of M 1 and M 2 are equal to their respective trigonids in length (vs. two-thirds; Figs 4 D, E View Figure 4 , 5 J View Figure 5 ).

M. lorelieae and M. annamitica are similar to Murina chayuensis sp. nov. in fur color and cranial morphology. However, both species have a shorter FA (Table 2 View Table 2 ), and the prepalatal emargination is shallower, ending at the level of the junction of C 1 and P 2 (vs. middle of C 1; Figs 4 A, B View Figure 4 , 5 A, H View Figure 5 ). In addition, M. annamitica shows slate gray basal fur dorsally (vs. black; Fig. 3 B View Figure 3 ), and P 2 is equal to P 4 in height (vs. two-thirds; Figs 4 C View Figure 4 , 5 A View Figure 5 ). Despite the lack of M. lorelieae in the phylogenetic analysis, it is also possible to distinguish Murina chayuensis sp. nov. by its dorsal fur having three color bands (vs. two color bands; Fig. 3 B View Figure 3 ). The braincase is also more inflated, rising more abruptly from the rostrum (vs. slowly and smoothly rising; Figs 4 C View Figure 4 , 5 H View Figure 5 ), and the lambdoidal is absent (vs. present; Figs 4 A, C View Figure 4 , 5 H View Figure 5 ).

Distribution and ecology.

To date, Murina chayuensis sp. nov. has only been found in Xiachayu Town, Chayu County, Xizang, China. The specimens were captured in harp traps set in mixed coniferous-broad-leaved forest at an altitude of approximately 1500–1600 m. This forest is near Xiachayu Town and local farms, where we also collected six species from five genera: Murina sp 2 , M. aff. huttonii , Harpiola isodon , Rhinolophus ferrumequinum , Pipistrellus sp. , and Myotis sp.