Golden-haired tube-nosed bat species discovered in Mizoram; India’s bat tally rises to 136

The Harpiola isodon, with a forearm length of 32–36 mm, is characterised by its striking golden-tipped hairs on the body and distinctive tube-like protruding nostrils

Published on: Sep 24, 2025, 17:42:22 IST

By Utpal Parashar

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Guwahati: A new species of golden-haired tube-nosed bat — Harpiola isodon — was found at two locations in Mizoram, taking the number of bat species in the country to 136.

Based on a comparative study of specimens kept in several museums abroad and DNA analysis of the Mizoram specimen, the team was able to confirm the bat species as Harpiola isodon. (Zootaxa)

“Based on morphometric and genetic analyses of a recently captured specimen from Mizoram state in India, we report the sighting of Harpiola isodon from India and extend its eastward range by over 1,000 km,” an article in the latest edition of the zoological journal Zootaxa, published on Wednesday, said.

The Harpiola isodon, with a forearm length of 32–36 mm, is characterised by its striking golden-tipped hairs on the body and distinctive tube-like protruding nostrils. It was found at Hmuifang village of Aizawl district by bat researcher Uttam Saikia of the Shillong branch of the Zoological Survey of India in March this year while undertaking a systematic assessment of Mizoram’s bats.

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He teamed up with his collaborators — Gabor Csorba from the Hungarian Natural History Museum, Manuel Ruedi from the Natural History Museum of Geneva, and Rohit Chakravarty of the Nature Conservation Foundation — for a detailed comparative study of the specimen.

Based on a comparative study of specimens kept in several museums abroad and DNA analysis of the Mizoram specimen, the team was able to confirm the bat species as Harpiola isodon.

The scientists also examined another old specimen from Sairep village in Lunglei district of Mizoram, in the collection of the Zoological Survey of India in Kolkata, and concluded that it belongs to the Harpiola isodon species too.

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The golden-haired tube-nosed bat was first discovered in the mountains of Taiwan in 2006, and since then it has reportedly been found in a few localities in southern China and Vietnam. An inhabitant of mountain forests, this species is likely present in suitable habitats of the intervening region — that is, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, and Myanmar. Its discovery in northeastern India extends the westward range of the species by over 1,000 km.

“This finding underscores the need for further studies in the northeastern region of India, a region encompassing two global biodiversity hotspots,” director of the Zoological Survey of India Dhriti Banerjee said.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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