New Bat species spotted in Northeast

India’s biodiversity register has a new addition with the discovery of the golden-haired tube-nosed bat (Harpiola isodon) in Mizoram. Scientists from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) confirmed the species during a field survey in March 2025, marking the first official record of this bat in the country. Until now, its known range was limited to Southeast Asia, including Taiwan, where it was first discovered in 2006, as well as southern China and Vietnam.

The bat was documented by Dr. Uttam Saikia of ZSI’s Shillong branch while surveying the forests of Hmuifang village in Aizawl district. To confirm its identity, he collaborated with international experts: Dr. Gábor Csorba of the Hungarian Natural History Museum, Dr. Manuel Ruedi of the Natural History Museum of Geneva, and Dr. Rohit Chakravarty of the Nature Conservation Foundation. Identification was verified through DNA analysis, morphological study, and comparison with museum specimens.

Characterised by its distinctive tube-shaped nostrils and golden-tipped fur, the bat had never before been recorded in India. The IUCN Red List currently classifies Harpiola isodon as Least Concern, indicating that its population is considered stable across its known range.

Calling the discovery a milestone, ZSI Director Dr. Dhriti Banerjee said it highlights the need for further research in Northeast India, which encompasses two global biodiversity hotspots: the Indo-Burma and Himalayan regions. She added that the find raises India’s confirmed bat species count to 136.

The discovery underscores the importance of habitat protection and intensified wildlife surveys in the Northeast, while reminding us that India’s forests continue to hold hidden treasures.