The Mount Mabu Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus mabuensis) as discovered by Dr Julian Bayliss, one of the four new species of African Horseshoe bat. Credit: Julian Bayliss
Latest research has discovered four new species of Horseshoe bat in Africa by piecing together clues such as DNA data and sonar frequency. This innovative approach could be used to tackle mysteries of other 'cryptic' species. We chose this bat's name to draw attention to the serious threat to the unique biodiversity isolated on the montane forest islands in northern Mozambique." - —Julian Bayliss A new multidisciplinary study on the enigmatic large Horseshoe bat - found widespread throughout South and East Africa - has revealed that instead of just one species as previously believed, the bat is in fact five different species, four of which have just been classified for the first time following their discovery. The discoveries were published yesterday in PLoS ONE , with the investigation led by bat experts and evolutionary geneticists from the University of Venda, Stellenbosch University, the University of Swaziland, the University of KwaZulu Natal, and the University of Cambridge. It was previously thought that there was only one type of large horseshoe bat, Hildebrandt's Horseshoe bat, although a series of discoveries beginning back in 1988 have led researchers to long suspect that the bat was in fact a complex group of different species - known as a 'cryptic' species. But hard evidence had eluded scientists until now, as modern technology, combined with a multidisciplinary approach, has allowed researchers to solve the riddle of these cryptic species for the first time.
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