Guwahati: In a discovery that underscores the hidden biodiversity of Northeast India, scientists have reported the first-ever record of the golden-haired tube-nosed bat (Harpiola isodon) from Mizoram, India.
Previously known only from Taiwan, Vietnam, and China, the species has now been confirmed from Mizoram, extending its known range westward by over 1,000 kilometres.
The finding, published this week in the international journal Zootaxa, comes from a specimen trapped in Hmuifang forest, Aizawl district. With its long silky fur tipped with golden hues, tube-shaped nostrils, and delicate frame, the bat has been described by researchers as a “golden jewel” of the forest.
Until now, India’s only known species in the genus Harpiola was H. grisea, described from Mussoorie in 1872 and believed to extend into the eastern Himalayas. A bat caught in Mizoram in the 1990s had previously been classified as H. grisea. However, new morphometric and genetic analyses reveal that both this earlier specimen and the newly collected female belong to H. isodon.
This correction restricts H. grisea to the Western Himalayas, while H. isodon becomes the sole representative of the genus in Northeast India.
“This discovery underlines the importance of integrative taxonomy—using both morphology and DNA to resolve complex identities,” said lead author Dr. Uttam Saikia of the Zoological Survey of India (Shillong).
The captured female weighed just eight grams, with a forearm length of 36.4 mm. Its dark brown fur is tipped with yellowish-gold, creating a shimmering effect under light. Unlike many related Murina bats, its tube-shaped nostrils are less pronounced, and its ears are triangular with delicate edges. Researchers also recorded its echolocation calls—steep, broadband pulses ranging between 131 kHz and 53 kHz, typical of the subfamily Murininae.
The bat was caught at an elevation of 1,690 metres in a tropical evergreen forest patch, reinforcing the idea that Harpiolaspecies are highland forest specialists. Previous records from Southeast Asia also place them between 1,000 and 2,400 metres.
“These bats are agile fliers, often foraging over streams in dense forests,” another researcher said, adding that catching them requires fine-mesh harp traps, as they can easily evade regular mist nets.
The Mizoram record strengthens biogeographic links between India’s Northeast and the bat-rich mountains of Southeast Asia. In recent years, several bat species once thought restricted to Indochina—such as the disk-footed bat (Eudiscopus denticulus) and Walston’s tube-nosed bat (Murina walstoni)—have been found in India and Nepal.
“This tells us that the Himalayan and Indo-Burmese landscapes are part of a larger ecological continuum,” said another member of the team.
Bats make up nearly a quarter of all mammal species in India, yet their diversity in the Northeast remains underexplored. Many species, like H. isodon, have very restricted ranges and specialised habitats, making them vulnerable to habitat loss.
“Each new discovery is a reminder of how much remains unknown about bats in India,” said Dr. Saikia. “These animals are vital for controlling insect populations and maintaining healthy forests.”
The researchers emphasize that systematic surveys combining field trapping, acoustic monitoring, and genetic studies are essential for uncovering the true richness of India’s bat fauna.
For now, the golden-haired tube-nosed bat of Mizoram stands as a striking symbol of the region’s hidden biodiversity—and a reminder that even in 2025, India’s forests continue to reveal new secrets.
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