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

Murina mindorensis sp. nov.

Figs. 1 View FIGURE 1 , 8B View FIGURE 8 , 9B View FIGURE 9 ; Tables 1, 2A, 2B.

Holotype. FMNH 228475 About FMNH , field number DSB 11094 , adult male, alcohol specimen with skull extracted, collected by D. S. Balete, 3 April 2015. 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 9675 View Materials . The nucleotide sequence as deposited in Genbank of Cytb mitochondrial gene is PV659308 and DBY nuclear gene is PV659361.

Type locality. 4.0 km S., 5.0 km W. Mt. Tallulah peak, Sablayan Municipality, Occidental Mindoro Province, Mindoro Island, Philippines ( 12.82673 N 120.94919 E, elevation 140 m) GoogleMaps .

Paratype. FMNH 228476 About FMNH , field number DSB 11055, adult female, collected by D. S. Balete, 31 March 2015 at 5.6 km N., 4.6 km W. Mt. Tallulah peak, Sablayan Municipality, Occidental Mindoro Province, Mindoro Island, Philippines ( 12.84097 N 121.94526 E, elevation 180 m) GoogleMaps .

Etymology. This species name reflects its distribution which is restricted to Mindoro Island. The suggested English common name is “Mindoro tube-nosed bat.”

Measurements of holotype. (in mm) and body mass (in g): total length, 91; tail vertebrae, 34; hind foot, 9; ear, 16, forearm, 36.9; and mass, 8.7.

Diagnosis. A large Murina similar to Murina cyclotis (as defined by Francis & Eger 2012) but larger (FA = 36.9– 39.0 mm; Table 1) with a longer, more robust skull (GLS = 19.2–19.7 mm; Tables 2A, 2B) and genetically different by about 12% average sequence divergence in Cytb from its sister species M. baletei ( Figs. 2 View FIGURE 2 and 4 View FIGURE 4 , Table 3).

Description. Dorsal fur of the holotype is reddish in colour, buff at the base, blending to brownish red tips. The ventrum is unicolour dark buff. The female paratype is pale reddish buff at the base dorsally and unicolour buff on the ventrum.

The skull ( Figs. 8B View FIGURE 8 , 9B View FIGURE 9 ) is large with a heavy rostrum, with modest sagittal and lambdoidal crests, and lacks an elevated ridge where the two meet. The upper toothrows are parallel. The upper incisors are bicuspidate and simple in shape and the inner are longer but slighter than the outer incisors. The upper premolars are similar in size. The mesostyles of M 1 and M 2 are reduced, and the labial face of these molars is V-shaped. The upper canines are long and robust. The basisphenoid pits are relatively well developed with a medium width septum. On the mandible, the incisors are tricuspidate; the canines are heavy and well worn. P 2 is smaller than P 4; the talonids on the lower molars are about ½ the trigonids. See Tables 1 and 2A, 2B for selected external and skull measurements.

Ecology. This species was captured within regenerating lowland dipterocarp forest ( 140–180 m) with a dense ground cover of ferns, gingers, orchids, and Begonia . In March, a pregnant female was captured in a “V-net” (i.e., two ground mist nets arranged in a V-shape) (embryo crown rump length = 17 mm). A male was captured in a net set at ground level.

Distribution. This species is endemic to Mindoro Island where two individuals were captured at two netting sites near the base of Mt. Tallulah.

Genetic Analyses. Cytochrome b and DBY sequences are available on GenBank for specimens listed in Appendices 2 and 3. Murina mindorensis is one of three divergent lineages that is supported by DBY data (two sites, Fig. 2 View FIGURE 2 ) from the Philippines that is closely related to M. cyclotis from mainland Asia. Relative divergence among Philippine species is discussed below.