Murina luzonensis, Eger & Sedlock & Lim & Heaney, 2025

Murina luzonensis sp. nov.

( Figs. 1 View FIGURE 1 , 8D View FIGURE 8 , 9D View FIGURE 9 , 10C View FIGURE 10 ; Tables 1, 2A, 2B)

Murina cyclotis View in CoL : Mt. Mingan: Balete et al. 2011: 79; Balbalasang, Heaney et al. 2005: 58; Mt. Twin Peaks, Mungiao Mts: Duya et al. 2007: 50, 56; Penablanca, Heaney et al. 2016b: 243 (but note that M. baletei is also referred to as M. cyclotis View in CoL in this book); also referenced as M. cyclotis View in CoL in Heaney et al. 2010).

Holotype. FMNH 190764 About FMNH , field number DSB 4348 , young adult male, alcohol specimen with skull extracted, collected by D. S. Balete 24 June 2006. The holotype is currently housed at FMNH but will be transferred to the National Museum of the Philippines, Manila before the end of 2025, where it has been assigned PNM 9672 View Materials .

Type locality. Dingalan Munic , 2.6 km S, 3.5 km W Mingan Peak, Aurora Province, Luzon Island, Philippines ( 15.45902 N 121.37114 E), elevation 559 m. The nucleotide sequence as deposited in Genbank of Cytb mitochondrial gene is PV659250 and DBY nuclear gene is PV659355 GoogleMaps .

Paratype. FMNH 190765 About FMNH , field number DSB 4349 , ♂, same date and locality as the holotype; and FMNH 190766 About FMNH , field number DSB 4362 , ♂, collected 25 June 2006, 2.25 km S, 3.25 km W Mingan peak, elevation 733 m, Aurora Province, Luzon Island , Philippines ( 15.4609 N 121.3732 E) GoogleMaps .

Etymology. This species name reflects its currently known distribution, which is based on specimens collected across northern Luzon Island. The suggested English common name is “Luzon tube-nosed bat”.

Measurements of holotype. (in mm) and body mass (in g): total length, 86; tail vertebrae, 31; hind foot, 9; ear, 15, forearm, 35.2; and mass, 7.5.

Referred Material. FMNH 169020 About FMNH ♀ (field number LRH 6320 ) collected 13 March, 2001, Mapga, elevation 1050 m, Balbalasang Brgy , Balbalan Munic., Kalinga Province, Luzon Island, Philippines ( 17 27 N 121 09 E) GoogleMaps ; FMNH 176550 About FMNH ♂ (field number Twin Peaks 136) collected 6 May 2003 at Twin Peaks, elevation 300 m, Sitio Matulang , Brgy Sta Margarita , Baggao Munic., Cagayan Province, Luzon Island, Philippines (18 N 121 E) ; FMNH 180287 About FMNH ♀ (field number PAA 495 ) collected 5 June 2004 at Mungiao Mts. , elevation 450 m, Sitio Mangitagud , Brgy Matmad , Nagtipunan Munic., Quirino Province, Luzon Island, Philippines ( 16 03 22.5 N 121 28 39.7E) GoogleMaps ; and FMNH 214117 About FMNH ♀ ( DSB 8159 ) collected 15 June 2011, 19 km NE Peñablanca, elevation 100 m, Cagayan Prov. Luzon , Philippines ( 17.8 N 121.87 E) GoogleMaps .

Diagnosis. Like Murina cyclotis but larger, more robust skull and genetically different with>18% average sequence divergence in Cytb from other species in the genus ( Table 3). Similar to M. baletei , but teeth are heavier, especially the premolars; the post-palate is longer than M. baletei ; a lateral view of the skull shows a brow ridge; the posterior sagittal crest is not well developed; the sagittal/lambdoid junction is not well defined with the distance from this junction to the foramen magnum greater than in M. baletei . Basisphenoid septum on M. luzonensis is wider than M. baletei ( Figs. 8D View FIGURE 8 , 9D View FIGURE 9 ).

Description. Dorsum almost unicoloured, with buff coloured hairs and light brown tips. The hairs at the shoulders are 6–7 mm long. The ventrum is unicoloured, light buff at the throat changing to grey buff along the sides and abdomen. The uropatagium is uniformly covered with long hair. The forearms and thumbs are covered with short dense fur buff in colour. The ear is notched on its posterior border ( Fig. 10C View FIGURE 10 ).

Skull is relatively robust but sagittal and lambdoidal crests are not well developed; the back of the braincase is rounded and low (relative to M. baletei ) ( Fig. 8D View FIGURE 8 ); teeth are heavy looking and mesostyles on upper molars are reduced ( Fig. 9D View FIGURE 9 ). The basisphenoid septum is wider than in M. baletei . On the lower molars, the talonid is approximately ½ the size of the trigonid ( Fig. 9D View FIGURE 9 ). Penis of male is short and wide compared to M. alvarezi . See Tables 1 and 2A, 2B for selected external and skull measurements.

Ecology. This species was captured across a broad range of elevation ( 200–1050 m; Fig. 4 View FIGURE 4 ), including intact lowland dipterocarp forest on Mount Mingan ( Balete et al. 2011); disturbed lowland forest within the Mungiao mountain range and Mount Twin Peaks; regenerating forest over limestone near the Cagayan River ( Balete et al. 2020); and within disturbed lower mossy forest at 1050 m near the village of Balbalasang in Kalinga Province ( Rickart et al. 2011). One lactating female was captured in June; and two post-lactating females were captured, in March and May.

Distribution. The central Cordillera and northern Sierra Madre range in northern Luzon Island from Mt. Twin Peaks to the Mingan mountains ( Fig.1 View FIGURE 1 ).

Genetic Analyses. Cytochrome b and DBY sequences are available on GenBank for specimens listed in Appendices 2 and 3. Relative divergences among Philippine species are discussed below.