Myotis Himalaicus

Why in News? The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) and Botanical Survey of India (BSI) released the Animal Discoveries 2025 and Plant Discoveries 2025 reports.
Key Findings of the Latest Survey
•    India added 709 faunal species in 2025, of which 483 species were new to science and 226 species were recorded in India for the first time.
•    India's total recorded faunal diversity now stands at 1,05,953 species.
•    India also added 353 plant taxa to its floral database, of which 221 taxa were new to science and 132 taxa were recorded in India for the first time.
•    Approximately 43% of the newly described taxa belong to vascular plants.

Spotlight Species – Myotis himalaicus
•    Myotis himalaicus (Himalayan Long-tailed Myotis) is a newly described bat species discovered from Uttarakhand.
•    It possesses a tail almost as long as its body, giving rise to its common name.
•    The species belongs to the Myotis frater species complex, a group of closely related bats distributed across eastern and central Asia.
•    The genus Myotis is among the largest and most widely distributed bat genera, comprising over 100 species worldwide.

Western Himalayas – A Bat Diversity Hotspot
•    The Western Himalayas support 53 bat species.
•    This accounts for nearly 40% of India's total bat diversity.
•    The revised inventory highlights the region as one of India's most important centres for bat conservation and research.

Notable Animal Discoveries (2025)
Among the important new species reported were:
•    Myotis himalaicus – Himalayan long-tailed bat.
•    Ptyctolaemus mamdaphaensis – Green fan-throated lizard.
•    Ptyctolaemus siangensis – Green fan-throated lizard.
•    Lycodon irwini – Irwin's wolf snake.