Arabian barbastelle
The Arabian barbastelle, also known as the levant barbastelle, is a species of vesper bat. Its habitat is temperate forests and caves. It is threatened by habitat loss. It is found in Egypt, Israel, and Eritrea.
Taxonomy and etymology
It was described as a new species in 1826 by German scientist Philipp Jakob Cretzschmar.Cretzschmar initially placed it in the genus Vespertilio, with the binomial Vespertilio leucomelas.
Its species name "leucomelas" is from Ancient Greek "leukomélās" meaning "black and white."
Previously, it was also thought to have a wider range across much of Asia, and accordingly was named the "eastern barbastelle" or "Asian barbastelle". However, genetic studies indicated that the species was paraphyletic as previously defined, with B. leucomelas from Egypt being the sister species to the Beijing barbastelle, with the clade containing both being sister to the western barbastelle. Populations of B. leucomelas from much of Asia formed a sister group to this whole clade. Due to this, the eastern barbastelle and Caspian barbastelle were both split as distinct species. The American Society of Mammalogists, IUCN Red List, and ITIS all follow the results of this study.
Range and habitat
Following taxonomic revisions, it is only known from a few scattered populations in North & East Africa and the Levant, on both sides of the Red Sea. It is known from northern Eritrea, southernmost Israel, and the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt. It has been documented up to above sea level.Description
Its forearm is long and its tail is long.Its ears are large and forward-facing.
The tragi are large as well and very hairy.
Its fur is blackish on its back but more brown on its ventral side.
Its thumb is quite small, at long including the claw.