The Hipposideros kingstonae bat
Image courtesy of Pipat Soisook
Joel Kontinen
According to evolution, species live for a certain
time and then they die. However, a new study shows that in Asia, more species
are coming to life,“The Greater Mekong region of Asia hosts a wealth of rare
and unstudied species – 173 new species of plants, 26 reptiles, 17 amphibians,
15 fish and three mammals were described last year.
Hipposideros kingstonae, this tiny leaf-nosed
bat can be found from Thailand to Borneo. DNA analysis confirmed that Hipposideros
kingstonae was a new species in 2023.
It isn’t known
where the diminutive bat, which weighs between just 4.9 and 7 grams, roosts. It
has been sighted near large limestone caves, suggesting it could shelter inside
them, but also in areas far away from any known caves, so it could roost in
tree hollows.”
Luke Taylor
Tekstit
