In a groundbreaking discovery, researchers from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) have identified the golden-haired tube-nosed bat (Harpiola isodon) in Mizoram, the first documented occurrence of this rare species in India. This finding extends the bat’s known global range westward by more than 1,000 kilometers, spotlighting the biodiversity riches of northeast India.

The discovery was made by bat researcher Dr. Uttam Saikia during a comprehensive survey of Mizoram’s bat fauna in the forests of Hmuifang village, Aizawl district. To confirm the species, Dr. Saikia collaborated with international experts, including Dr. Gabor Csorba from the Hungarian Natural History Museum, Dr. Manuel Ruedi from the Natural History Museum of Geneva, and Dr. Rohit Chakravarty from the Nature Conservation Foundation.

Through detailed DNA analysis and comparisons with museum specimens abroad, the team verified the bat as Harpiola isodon. Additionally, an earlier specimen from Sairep village in Lunglei district, preserved at ZSI Kolkata, was confirmed to belong to the same species.

First documented in Taiwan in 2006, the golden-haired tube-nosed bat has previously been recorded only in southern China and Vietnam. This small bat, with a forearm length of 32–36 mm, is notable for its golden-tipped fur and distinctive tube-like nostrils, adaptations suited for its montane forest habitat. Scientists suggest the species may also inhabit similar ecosystems in Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, and Myanmar.

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Dr. Saikia’s team, with over a decade of research in the Indian Himalayas, has a strong track record of uncovering new bat species and records. ZSI Director Dr. Dhriti Banerjee emphasized that this discovery highlights the need for intensified research in northeast India, a region spanning the Indo-Burma and Himalaya biodiversity hotspots. “With this addition, India’s confirmed bat species count now stands at 136,” she stated, underscoring the region’s critical role in global conservation efforts.

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