Kingdom Animalia Class Mammalia Family Vespertilionidae Rank Species | Phylum Chordata Order Chiroptera Genus Barbastella | |
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The Beijing barbastelle (Barbastella beijingensis), also known as the Beijing wide-eared bat, is a species of vesper bat endemic to Beijing Municipality, China. The species was discovered by Chinese zoology students in 2001 in caves of Fangshan District in southwestern Beijing and was identified as a distinct species by zoologists Zhang Shuyi, Gareth Jones, Zhang Jingshuo and Han Naijian in 2007.
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Description
The Beijing barbastelle is a relatively large member of the genus Barbastella with forearm length of 41.1-46.4 mm and body mass of 10.5-13.9 g. It has dark black dorsal fur with brown-gray tips and lighter ventral fur. The shape of its ear and the frequency of its echolocation calls are distinct from those of its closest relatives, the Asian barbastelle and western barbastelle.
Range and habitat
The Beijing barbastelle has only been found in caves and one abandoned tunnel in Fangshan District, near Yunxiaoling, in a mountainous region with riparian woodland.
Conservation
The Beijing barbastelle is believed to be rare but as of 2007, there has not been an assessment of the species in the Red List of Threatened Species (IUCN).