New Bat on SVG

Abstract 
We describe and formally name a species of big-eared bat (genus: Micronycteris), collected from the Lesser Antillean island of Saint Vincent. The new species is distinguished from its closest relative, Micronycteris megalotis, by its large size, distinct craniodental features, and by mitochondrial DNA variation. The distribution of the new species is restricted to the island of St. Vincent, southern Lesser Antilles. Relaxed molecular clock analyses indicate the most recent common ancestor between the St. Vincent species of Micronycteris and mainland populations of M. megalotis is less than 1 million years. Rising sea levels during the late Pleistocene likely contributed to the geographic isolation and subsequent allopatric speciation of this new species. Our data reinforce previous hypotheses regarding unrecognized species diversity within the M. megalotis

(PhysOrg.com) -- At first glance, the bat captured in St. Vincent looked like a common type found in South America.
But after closer inspection, Texas Tech University biologists discovered a new species found only on the Caribbean island and whose origins probably trace back to a dramatic marooning after glaciers receded and sea levels rose.
The discovery was made by Peter Larsen, a post-doctoral research associate in the Department of Biological Sciences, and Lizette Siles, graduate student of zoology. It was featured in the online version of the peer-reviewed journal, Mammalian Biology.

Read more on : http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-05-species-st-vincent-island.html

(Thanks to Cheryl King)