A Checklist of Valid Indian Bat Species - Zoological Survey of India

A Checklist of Valid Indian Bat Species (Chiroptera: Mammalia) 

S. S. Talmale and M. S. Pradhan* 

Zoological Survey of India, Western Regional Centre, 

Vidyanagar, Sector-29, Rawet Road, PCNTDA Post, 

Pune-411 044, Maharashtra, India 

E-mail : s_talmale@yahoo.co.in 

* Present Address : Kalpanamati Housing Society, Flat No. B-2, 

Aundhgaon, Pune-411 007, Maharashtra, India 

E-mail : wspradhan@yahoo.com 

Updated till November, 2009 

Online Version 

Zoological Survey of India

Talmale & Pradhan : A Checklist of Valid Indian Bat Species (Chiroptera : Mammalia) 

Table of Contents 

Introduction---------------------------------------- 03 

List of Families------------------------------------- 05 

List of Genera-------------------------------------- 05 

List of Species-------------------------------------- 06 

Notes and Comments----------------------------- 14 

References------------------------------------------ 16 

Cover Photo : Wroughton's Free-Tailed bat, Otomops wroughtoni (Thomas), from 

Barapede Cave in Belgaon Dist, Karnataka (Photograph by M. S. Pradhan) 

Zoological Survey of India Page 2


Introduction : 

Chiropterans are commonly known as bats. They are the only true flying mammals, 

comprising altogether globally 1116 species in 202 genera under 18 families (Wilson & Reeder, 

2005). They constitute about quarter of the entire mammal species. Bats are characteristic as 

their forelimbs are modified into membranous wings (patagium), supported by long digits. 

Membrane called uropatagium (interfemoral membrane) is also present between the hind limbs. 

Most of the bats live in colonies. They are nocturnal, and usually hide in dark places during 

daytime. They chiefly consume fruits and insects. 

Ellerman and Morrison-Scott (1951, 1966 (2 nd edition) enlisted mammal species 

(Including Chiroptera) reported till 1946 from India in their exhaustive account “Checklist of 

Palaearctic and Indian mammals”. They compiled pre-independence work of E. Blyth; B. H. 

Hodgson; T. C. Jerdon; G. E. Dobson; T. Hutton; W. T. Blanford; R. C. Wroughton; G. S. 

Miller; K. V. Ryley; M. Davidson; J. P. Mills; M. A. C. Hinton; T. B. Fry; H. M. Lindsay; O. 

Thomas; W. Elliot; T. Hardwicke; T. Horsfield; J. Anderson; G. M. Allen; K. Andersen with up- 

dated information on the taxonomy and geographical distribution of Indian bats. 

Substantial contribution to the field of Indian bat taxonomy and their geographical 

distribution has been made by various scientist of Zoological Survey of India, such as Drs. H. 

Khajuria; V. C. Agrawal; S. Chakraborty; S. S. Saha; P. K. Das; R. K. Ghose; T. P. 

Bhattacharya; D. K. Ghosal; M. K. Ghosh, J. P. Lal; Y. P. Sinha; M. S. Pradhan; S. Nath; Y. 

Chaturvedi; S. S. Talmale and Uttam Saikia. 

Professors from Indian Universities, viz., A. Gopalkrishna, A. Madhavan, Ishwar 

Prakash; V. M. Sapkal, G. Marimuthu, D. A. Bhiwgade, K. Sripathi, V. S. Korad, J. 

Vanitharani and others also contributed work on various aspects of Bats. 

Revisionary work on Indian Bat taxonomy and geographical distribution by Brosset 

(1962abc, 1963); Topal (1974); Corbet and Hill (1992), Kock and Bhat (1994), Bates and 

Harrison (1997), Sinha (1970, 1973, 1999), Pradhan and Kulkarni (1997), Pradhan (2008), 

Ramarkishna et al.(2003), Csorba et al. (2003), Das (2003), Ghosh (2005, 2008), Alfred et al. 

(2006), Srinivasulu and Srinivasulu (2001, 2006) are also significant. Recently Nameer (2008) 

revised and updated the checklist of Indian mammals at species level only. Present checklist 

reports valid Indian chiropteran taxa upto subspecies level based on Simmons (2005) which 

includes 117 species and 100 subspecies under 39 genera belonging to 8 families (Table-1). 



Table-1: Global and Indian diversity of Chiroptera. 

Sl. 

No. 

Family No. Genera No. Speices 

World India World India 

1 Pteropodidae 42 8 186 14 

2 Rhinolophidae 1 1 77 17 

3 Hipposideridae 9 2 81 13 

4 Megadermatidae 4 1 5 2 

5 Rhinopomatidae 1 1 4 3 

6 Craseonycteridae# 1 0 1 0 

7 Emballonuridae 13 2 51 6 

8 Nycteridae# 1 0 16 0 

9 Myzopodidae# 1 0 1 0 

10 Mystacinidae# 1 0 2 0 

11 Phyllostomidae# 55 0 160 0 

12 Mormoopidae# 2 0 10 0 

13 Noctilionidae# 1 0 2 0 

14 Furipteridae# 2 0 2 0 

15 Thyropteridae# 1 0 3 0 

16 Natalidae# 3 0 8 0 

17 Molossidae 16 3 100 4 

18 Vespertilionidae 48 21 407 58 

Total 202 39 1116 117 

Note : Families with ‘#’ are not represented in India. 

World Chiroptera data after Wilson and Reeder, 2005 



List of Families: 

1. Pteropodidae 

2. Rhinolophidae 

3. Hipposideridae 

4. Megadermatidae 

5. Rhinopomatidae 

6. Emballonuridae 

7. Molossidae 

8. Vespertilionidae 

List of Genera: 

1. Cynopterus 21. Hesperoptenus 

2. Eonycteris 22. Scotoecus 

3. Latidens 23. Scotomanes 

4. Macroglossus 24. Scotophilus 

5. Megaerops 25. Nyctalus 

6. Pteropus 26. Pipistrellus 

7. Rousettus 27. Scotozous 

8. Sphaerias 28. Barbastella 

9. Rhinolophus 29. Otonycteris 

10. Coelops 30. Plecotus 

11. Hipposideros 31. Falsistrellus 

12. Megaderma 32. Hypsugo 

13. Rhinopoma 33. Ia 

14. Saccolaimus 34. Tylonycteris 

15. Taphozous 35. Myotis 

16. Chaerephon 36. Miniopterus 

17. Otomops 37. Harpiocephalus 

18. Tadarida 38. Murina 

19. Arielulus 39. Kerivoula 

20. Eptesicus 



Species Checklist 

Note : Kindly see the Notes for the species marked with ‘*’ at the end of the checklist. 

Order Chiroptera Blumenbach, 1779 

Family Pteropodidae Gray, 1821 

1. Genus :Cynopterus F. Cuvier, 1824 

1. Cynopterus brachyotis (Müller, 1838). Lesser Short-nosed Fruit Bat 

*1a. Cynopterus brachyotis brachysoma Dobson, 1871 

1b. Cynopterus brachyotis ceylonensis Gray, 1871 

2. Cynopterus sphinx (Vahl, 1797). Greater Short-nosed Fruit Bat 

2a. Cynopterus sphinx sphinx (Vahl, 1797) 

*2b. Cynopterus sphinx scherzeri Zelebor, 1869 

2. Genus : Eonycteris Dobson, 1873 

3. Eonycteris spelaea (Dobson, 1871). Lesser Dawn Bat 

3a. Eonycteris spelaea spelaea (Dobson, 1871) 

3. Genus :Latidens Thonglongya, 1972 

4. Latidens salimalii Thonglongya, 1972. Salim Ali’s Fruit Bat 

4. Genus :Macroglossus F. Cuvier, 1824 

5. Macroglossus sobrinus K. Andersen, 1911. Greater Long-nosed Fruit Bat 

5a. Macroglossus sobrinus sobrinus K. Andersen, 1911 

5. Genus :Megaerops Peters, 1865 

*6. Megaerops niphanae Yenbutra and Felten, 1983. Ratanaworabhan's Fruit Bat 

6. Genus :Pteropus Brisson, 1762 

7. Pteropus faunulus Miller, 1902. Nicobar Flying Fox 

*8. Pteropus giganteus (Brünnich, 1782). Indian Flying Fox 

8a. Pteropus giganteus giganteus (Brünnich, 1782). 

9. Pteropus hypomelanus Temminck, 1853. Variable Flying Fox 

9a. Pteropus hypomelanus satyrus K. Andersen, 1908 

10. Pteropus melanotus Blyth, 1863. Black-eared Flying Fox 

10a. Pteropus melanotus melanotus Blyth, 1863. 

10b. Pteropus melanotus tytleri Dobson, 1874. 

*11. Pteropus vampyrus Linnaeus, 1758 Large Flying Fox 

7. Genus :Rousettus Gray, 1821 

*12. Rousettus aegyptiacus (E. Geoffroy, 1810). Egyptian Rousette 

12a. Rousettus aegyptiacus arabicus Anderson and de Winton, 1902 

13. Rousettus leschenaultii (Desmarest, 1820). Leschenault's Rousette 

13a. Rousettus leschenaultii leschenaultii (Desmarest, 1820) 



8. Genus :Sphaerias Miller, 1906 

14. Sphaerias blanfordi (Thomas, 1891). Blanford's Fruit Bat 

14a. Sphaerias blanfordi blanfordi (Thomas, 1891) 

Family Rhinolophidae Gray, 1825 

9. Genus :Rhinolophus Lacépède, 1799 

15. Rhinolophus affinis Horsfield, 1823. Intermediate Horseshoe Bat 

15a. Rhinolophus affinis andamanensis Dobson 

15b. Rhinolophus affinis himalayanus K. Andersen, 1905 

16. Rhinolophus beddomei K. Andersen, 1905. Bedomme's Horseshoe Bat 

16a. Rhinolophus beddomei beddomei K. Andersen, 1905 

17. Rhinolophus cognatus K. Andersen, 1906. Andaman Horseshoe Bat 

17a. Rhinolophus cognatus cognatus K. Andersen, 1906 

17b. Rhinolophus cognatus famulus K. Andersen, 1918 

*18. Rhinolophus ferrumequinum (Schreber, 1774). Greater Horseshoe Bat 

18a. Rhinolophus ferrumequinum proximus K. Andersen, 1905 

18b. Rhinolophus ferrumequinum tragatus Hodgson, 1835 

19. Rhinolophus hipposideros (Bechstein, 1800). Lesser Horseshoe Bat 

19a. Rhinolophus hipposideros midas K. Andersen, 1905 

20. Rhinolophus lepidus Blyth, 1844. Blyth's Horseshoe Bat 

20a. Rhinolophus lepidus monticola K. Andersen, 1905 

21. Rhinolophus luctus Temminck, 1834. Woolly Horseshoe Bat 

21a. Rhinolophus luctus perniger Hodgson, 1843 

22. Rhinolophus macrotis Blyth, 1844. Big-eared Horseshoe Bat 

22a. Rhinolophus macrotis macrotis Blyth, 1844 

23. Rhinolophus mitratus Blyth, 1844. Mitred Horseshoe Bat 

24. Rhinolophus pearsonii Horsfield, 1851. Pearson's Horseshoe Bat 

24a. Rhinolophus pearsonii pearsonii Horsfield, 1851 

25. Rhinolophus pusillus Temminck, 1834. Least Horseshoe Bat 

25a. Rhinolophus pusillus blythi K. Andersen, 1918 

25b. Rhinolophus pusillus gracilis K. Andersen, 1905 

26. Rhinolophus rouxii Temminck, 1835. Rufous Horseshoe Bat 

26a. Rhinolophus rouxii rouxii Temminck, 1835 

27. Rhinolophus shortridgei K. Andersen, 1918. Shortridge's Horseshoe Bat 

28. Rhinolophus sinicus K. Andersen, 1905. Chinese Rufous Horseshoe Bat 

29. Rhinolophus subbadius Blyth, 1844. Little Nepalese Horseshoe Bat 

30. Rhinolophus trifoliatus Temminck, 1834. Trefoil Horseshoe Bat 

30a. Rhinolophus trifoliatus trifoliatus Temminck, 1834 

31. Rhinolophus yunanensis Dobson, 1872. Dobson's Horseshoe Bat 



Family Hipposideridae Lydekker, 1891 

10. Genus :Coelops Blyth, 1848 

32. Coelops frithii Blyth, 1848. East Asian Tailless Leaf-nosed Bat 

11. Genus :Hipposideros Gray, 1831 

33. Hipposideros armiger (Hodgson, 1835). Great Leaf-nosed Bat 

33a. Hipposideros armiger armiger (Hodgson, 1835). 

34. Hipposideros ater Templeton, 1848. Dusky Leaf-nosed Bat 

34a. Hipposideros ater ater Templeton, 1848 

34b. Hipposideros ater nicobarulae Miller, 1902 

34c. Hipposideros ater nallamalaensis Srinivasulu and Srinivasulu 

35. Hipposideros cineraceus Blyth, 1853. Ashy Leaf-nosed Bat 

35a. Hipposideros cineraceus cineraceus Blyth, 1853 

*36. Hipposideros diadema (E. Geoffroy, 1813). Diadem Leaf-nosed Bat 

36a. Hipposideros diadema nicobarensis Dobson, 1871 

37. Hipposideros durgadasi Khajuria, 1970. Durga Das's Leaf-nosed Bat 

38. Hipposideros fulvus Gray, 1838. Fulvus Leaf-nosed Bat 

38a. Hipposideros fulvus fulvus Gray, 1838 

38b. Hipposideros fulvus pallidus K. Andersen, 1918 

39. Hipposideros galeritus Cantor, 1846. Cantor's Leaf-nosed Bat 

39a. Hipposideros galeritus brachyotis Dobson, 1874 

40. Hipposideros hypophyllus Kock and Bhat, 1994. Leafletted Leaf-nosed Bat 

*41. Hipposideros lankadiva Kelaart, 1850. Indian Leaf-nosed Bat 

42. Hipposideros larvatus (Horsfield, 1823). Intermediate Leaf-nosed Bat 

42a. Hipposideros larvatus leptophyllus Dobson, 1874 

43. Hipposideros pomona K. Andersen, 1918. Pomona Leaf-nosed Bat 

43a. Hipposideros pomona pomona K. Andersen, 1918 

43b. Hipposideros pomona gentilis K. Andersen, 1918 

*44. Hipposideros speoris (Schneider, 1800). Schneider's Leaf-nosed Bat 

44a. Hipposideros speoris speoris (Schneider, 1800) 

Family Megadermatidae H. Allen, 1864 

12. Genus :Megaderma E. Geoffroy, 1810 

45. Megaderma lyra E. Geoffroy, 1810. Greater False Vampire Bat 

45a. Megaderma lyra lyra E. Geoffroy, 1810 

46. Megaderma spasma (Linnaeus, 1758). Lesser False Vampire Bat 

46a. Megaderma spasma horsfieldii Blyth, 1863 



Family Rhinopomatidae Bonaparte, 1838 

13. Genus :Rhinopoma E. Geoffroy, 1818 

47. Rhinopoma hardwickii Gray, 1831. Lesser Mouse-tailed Bat 

47a. Rhinopoma hardwickii hardwickii Gray, 1831 

48. Rhinopoma microphyllum (Brünnich, 1782). Greater Mouse-tailed Bat 

48a. Rhinopoma microphyllum kinneari Wroughton, 1912 

49. Rhinopoma muscatellum Thomas, 1903. Small Mouse-tailed Bat 

Family Emballonuridae Gervais, 1855 

Subfamily Taphozoinae Jerdon, 1867 

14. Genus :Saccolaimus Temminck, 1838 

50. Saccolaimus saccolaimus (Temminck, 1838). Naked-rumped Pouched Bat 

50a. Saccolaimus saccolaimus crassus Blyth, 1844 

15. Genus :Taphozous E. Geoffroy, 1818 

51. Taphozous longimanus Hardwicke, 1825. Long-winged Tomb Bat 

51a. Taphozous longimanus longimanus Hardwicke, 1825 

52. Taphozous melanopogon Temminck, 1841. Black-bearded Tomb Bat 

52a. Taphozous melanopogon melanopogon Temminck, 1841 

53. Taphozous nudiventris Cretzschmar, 1830. Naked-rumped Tomb Bat 

53a. Taphozous nudiventris kachhensis Dobson, 1872 

54. Taphozous perforatus E. Geoffroy, 1818. Egyptian Tomb Bat 

54a. Taphozous perforatus perforatus E. Geoffroy, 1818 

55. Taphozous theobaldi Dobson, 1872. Theobald's Tomb Bat 

55a. Taphozous theobaldi secatus Thomas, 1915 

Family Molossidae Gervais, 1856 

Subfamily Molossinae Gervais, 1856. 

16. Genus :Chaerephon Dobson, 1874 

56. Chaerephon plicatus (Buchannan, 1800). Wrinkle-lipped Free-tailed Bat 

56a. Chaerephon plicatus plicatus (Buchannan, 1800) 

17. Genus :Otomops Thomas, 1913 

57. Otomops wroughtoni (Thomas, 1913). Wroughton's Giant Mastiff Bat 

18. Genus :Tadarida Rafinesque, 1814 

*58. Tadarida aegyptiaca (E. Geoffroy, 1818). Egyptian Free-tailed Bat 

58a. Tadarida aegyptiaca thomasi Wroughton, 1919 

*59. Tadarida teniotis (Rafinesque, 1814). European Free-tailed Bat 

59a. Tadarida teniotis teniotis (Rafinesque, 1814) 



Family Vespertilionidae Gray, 1821 

Subfamily Vespertilioninae Gray, 1821 

Tribe Eptesicini Volleth and Heller, 1994 

19. Genus :Arielulus Hill and Harrison, 1987 

60. Arielulus circumdatus (Temminck, 1840) Bronze Sprite 

20. Genus :Eptesicus Rafinesque, 1820 

61. Eptesicus gobiensis Bobrinskii, 1926 Gobi Big Brown Bat 

61a. Eptesicus gobiensis kashgaricus Bobrinskii, 1926 

62. Eptesicus pachyotis (Dobson, 1871) Thick-eared Bat 

63. Eptesicus serotinus (Schreber, 1774) Common Serotine 

63a. Eptesicus serotinus pachyomus Tomes, 1857 

64. Eptesicus tatei Ellerman and Morrison-Scott, 1951 Sombre Bat 

21. Genus :Hesperoptenus Peters, 1868 

65. Hesperoptenus tickelli (Blyth, 1851) Tickell's Bat 

65a. Hesperoptenus tickelli tickelli (Blyth, 1851) 

Tribe Nycticeiini Gervais, 1855 

22. Genus :Scotoecus Thomas, 1901 

66. Scotoecus pallidus (Dobson, 1876) Desert Yellow Lesser House Bat 

23. Genus :Scotomanes Dobson, 1875 

*67. Scotomanes ornatus (Blyth, 1851) Harlequin Bat. 

67a. Scotomanes ornatus ornatus (Blyth, 1851) 

67b. Scotomanes ornatus sinensis Thomas, 1921 

24. Genus :Scotophilus Leach, 1821 

68. Scotophilus heathii (Horsfield, 1831). Greater Asiatic Yellow House Bat 

68a. Scotophilus heathii heathii (Horsfield, 1831) 

69. Scotophilus kuhlii Leach, 1821. Lesser Asiatic Yellow House Bat 

69a. Scotophilus kuhlii kuhlii Leach, 1821 

Tribe Pipistrellini Tate, 1942 

25. Genus :Nyctalus Bowditch, 1825 

70. Nyctalus leisleri (Kuhl, 1817). Leisler's Noctule 

70a. Nyctalus leisleri leisleri (Kuhl, 1817) 

71. Nyctalus montanus (Barrett-Hamilton, 1906). Mountain Noctule 

72. Nyctalus noctula (Schreber, 1774). Noctule 

72a. Nyctalus noctula labiata Hodgson, 1835 



26. Genus :Pipistrellus Kaup, 1829 

73. Pipistrellus abramus (Temminck, 1838). Japanese Pipistrelle 

74. Pipistrellus ceylonicus (Kelaart, 1852). Kelaart's Pipistrelle 

74a. Pipistrellus ceylonicus indicus Dobson, 1878 

75. Pipistrellus coromandra (Gray, 1838). Indian Pipistrelle 

75a. Pipistrellus coromandra coromandra (Gray, 1838) 

*76. Pipistrellus javanicus (Gray, 1838). Javan Pipistrelle 

76a. Pipistrellus javanicus babu Thomas, 1915 

76b. Pipistrellus javanicus camortae Miller, 1902 

76c. Pipistrellus javanicus peguensis Sinha, 1969 

77. Pipistrellus kuhlii (Kuhl, 1817). Kuhl's Pipistrelle 

77a. Pipistrellus kuhlii lepidus Blyth, 1845 

78. Pipistrellus paterculus Thomas, 1915. Mount Popa Pipistrelle 

78a. Pipistrellus paterculus paterculus Thomas, 1915 

79. Pipistrellus pipistrellus (Schreber, 1774). Common Pipistrelle 

79a. Pipistrellus pipistrellus aladdin Thomas, 1905 

*80. Pipistrellus tenuis (Temminck, 1840). Least Pipistrelle 

80a. Pipistrellus tenuis mimus Wroughton, 1899 

27. Genus :Scotozous Dobson, 1875 

81. Scotozous dormeri Dobson, 1875. Dormer's Pipistrelle 

Tribe Plecotini Gray, 1866 

28. Genus :Barbastella Gray, 1821 

82. Barbastella leucomelas (Cretzschmar, 1826). Eastern Barbastelle 

82a. Barbastella leucomelas darjelingensis Hodgson, 1855 [in Horsfield, 1855] 

29. Genus :Otonycteris Peters, 1859 

83. Otonycteris hemprichii Peters, 1859. Hemprich's Desert Bat 

30. Genus :Plecotus E. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1818 

84. Plecotus auritus (Linnaeus, 1758). Brown Long-eared Bat 

84a. Plecotus auritus homochrous Hodgson, 1847 

*85. Plecotus austriacus (J. Fischer, 1829). Gray Long-eared Bat 

85a. Plecotus austriacus wardi Thomas, 1911 

Tribe Vespertilionini Gray, 1821. 

31. Genus :Falsistrellus Troughton, 1943 

86. Falsistrellus affinis (Dobson, 1871). Chocolate Pipistrelle 

32. Genus :Hypsugo Kolenati, 1856 

87. Hypsugo cadornae (Thomas, 1916). Cadorna's Pipistrelle 

88. Hypsugo savii (Bonaparte, 1837). Savi's Pipistrelle 



88a. Hypsugo savii austenianus Dobson, 1871 

33. Genus : Ia Thomas, 1902 

89. Ia io Thomas, 1902. Great Evening Bat 

34. Genus :Tylonycteris Peters, 1872 

90. Tylonycteris pachypus (Temminck, 1840). Lesser Bamboo Bat 

90a. Tylonycteris pachypus aurex Thomas, 1915 

90b. Tylonycteris pachypus fulvidus Blyth, 1859 

91. Tylonycteris robustula Thomas, 1915. Greater Bamboo Bat 

91a. Tylonycteris robustula robustula Thomas, 1915 

Subfamily Myotinae Tate, 1942 

35. Genus :Myotis Kaup, 1829 

92. Myotis annectans (Dobson, 1871). Hairy-faced Myotis 

92a. Myotis annectans annectans (Dobson, 1871) 

93. Myotis blythii (Tomes, 1857). Lesser Mouse-eared Myotis 

93a. Myotis blythii blythii (Tomes, 1857) 

94. Myotis formosus (Hodgson, 1835). Hodgson's Myotis 

94a. Myotis formosus formosus (Hodgson, 1835) 

95. Myotis hasseltii (Temminck, 1840). Lesser Large-footed Myotis 

95a. Myotis hasseltii hasseltii (Temminck, 1840) 

96. Myotis horsfieldii (Temminck, 1840). Horsfield's Myotis 

96a. Myotis horsfieldii dryas K. Andersen, 1907 

96b. Myotis horsfieldii peshwa Thomas, 1915 

97. Myotis laniger Peters, 1871. Chinese Water Myotis 

98. Myotis longipes (Dobson, 1873). Kashmir Cave Myotis 

98a. Myotis longipes longipes (Dobson, 1873) 

99. Myotis montivagus (Dobson, 1874). Burmese Whiskered Myotis 

99a. Myotis montivagus peytoni Wroughton and Ryley, 1913. 

100. Myotis muricola (Gray, 1846). Nepalese Whiskered Myotis 

100a. Myotis muricola muricola (Gray, 1846) 

100b. Myotis muricola caliginosus Tomes, 1859 

*101. Myotis mystacinus (Kuhl, 1817) Whiskered Myotis 

101a. Myotis mystacinus nipalensis (Dobson, 1871) 

102. Myotis sicarius Thomas, 1915. Mandelli's Mouse-eared Myotis 

103. Myotis siligorensis (Horsfield, 1855). Himalayan Whiskered Myotis 

103a. Myotis siligorensis siligorensis (Horsfield, 1855) 



Subfamily Miniopterinae Dobson, 1875 

36. Genus :Miniopterus Bonaparte, 1837 

104. Miniopterus magnater Sanborn, 1931. Western Long-fingered Bat 

105. Miniopterus pusillus Dobson, 1876. Small Long-fingered Bat 

106. Miniopterus schreibersii (Kuhl, 1817). Schreibers's Long-fingered Bat 

106a. Miniopterus schreibersii fuliginosus Hodgson, 1835 

Subfamily Murininae Miller, 1907 

37. Genus :Harpiocephalus Gray, 1842 

107. Harpiocephalus harpia (Temminck, 1840). Lesser Hairy-winged Bat 

107a. Harpiocephalus harpia lasyurus Hodgson, 1847 

107b. Harpiocephalus harpia madrassius Thomas, 1923 

108. Harpiocephalus mordax Thomas, 1923. Greater Hairy-winged Bat 

38. Genus :Murina Gray, 1842 

109. Murina aurata Milne-Edwards, 1872. Little Tube-nosed Bat 

109a. Murina aurata aurata Milne-Edwards, 1872 

110. Murina cyclotis Dobson, 1872. Round-eared Tube-nosed Bat 

110a. Murina cyclotis cyclotis Dobson, 1872 

111. Murina grisea Peters, 1872. Peters's Tube-nosed Bat 

112. Murina huttoni (Peters, 1872). Hutton's Tube-nosed Bat 

112a. Murina huttoni huttoni (Peters, 1872) 

113. Murina leucogaster Milne-Edwards, 1872. Greater Tube-nosed Bat 

113a. Murina leucogaster rubex Thomas, 1916 

114. Murina tubinaris (Scully, 1881). Scully's Tube-nosed Bat 

Subfamily Kerivoulinae Miller, 1907 

39. Genus :Kerivoula Gray, 1842 

*115. Kerivoula hardwickii (Horsfield, 1824). Hardwicke's Woolly Bat 

116. Kerivoula lenis Thomas, 1916. Lenis Woolly Bat 

117. Kerivoula picta (Pallas, 1767). Painted Woolly Bat 

117a. Kerivoula picta picta (Pallas, 1767) 



Notes and Comments: 

1. Cynopterus brachyotis brachysoma Dobson, 1871: Simmons (2005) recognized as a 

subspecies from Andaman Island. 

2. Cynopterus sphinx scherzeri Zelebor, 1869 : Simmons (2005) recognized as a 

subspecies from Nicobar Island. 

3. Megaerops niphanae Yenbutra and Felten, 1983: Earlier records of Megaerops 

ecaudatus Temminck from North East India, Thailand and Vietnam have been referred to 

Megaerops niphanae (Corbet and Hill,1992). Same view followed by De et al (2006). 

4. Pteropus giganteus (Brünnich, 1782) : The Himalayan population (Nepal, Sikkim, 

Assam, Manipur and possibly Myanmar) of this species differs in longer and softer fur 

and recognised as Pteropus giganteus leucocephalus Hodgson. The status and 

geographical limits of this taxon are still uncertain (Bates and Harrison, 1997). 

5. Pteropus vampyrus Linnaeus, 1758 : Simmons (2005) has not shown its distribution in 

India (Andaman and Nicobar Islands). However, Corbet and Hill (1992) and Bates and 

Harrison (1997) have reported vagrant or seasonal migrant populations from these 

islands. Hence this species has tentatively been placed in the present list. 

6. Rousettus aegyptiacus arabicus Anderson and de Winton, 1902 : Prakash, (1963) 

suggested occurrence of this subspecies in Rajasthan due to suitable habitat in the Indian 

desert. Sinha (1980) did not mention the species from Rajasthan. No collection record 

from India (Bates and Harrison, 1997). Das (1986) also suggested the exclusion of this 

species from Indian list eventhough Corbet and Hill (1992) suggested distribution 

possibly in adjoining parts of NW India. Simmons (2005) follows the same view. Hence 

present list tentatively includes Rousettus aegyptiacus arabicus. 

7. Rhinolophus ferrumequinum regulus Andersen, 1905 : Sinha (1973), Bates and 

Harrison (1997) and Csorba et al (2003) synonymised this subspecies under species 

Rhinolophus ferrumequinum and recognized only subspecies tragatus and proximus from 

Himachal Pradesh to NE India and Kashmir respectively. 

8. Hipposideros diadema nicobarensis (Dobson, 1871) : Ghosh (2008) listed this taxon as 

a separate species. However following the view of Bates and Harrison (1997) and Alfred 

et al (2002), Simmons (2005) treated it as a subspecies of Hipposideros diadema. 

9. Hipposideros lankadiva Kelaart, 1850 : Following the view of Brosset (1962b), Sinha 

(1999), Bates and Harrison (1997), Srinivasulu and Srinivasulu (2001) and Das (2003) 

synonymised all the taxa viz. indus, mixtus, unitus (earlier recognized as a subspecies) 

and schistaceus (earlier recognized as a separate species) under Hipposideros lankadiva 

by Simmons (2005). 

10. Hipposideros speoris (Schneider, 1800): Corbet and Hill (1992) recognized two very 

weakly defined subspecies viz. Hipposideros speoris speoris and Hipposideros speoris 

pulchellus on the basis of minor variations in average size. Sinha (1975), Bates and 

Harrison (1997) and Simmons (2005) synonymised pulchellus under nominate subspecies 

Hipposideros speoris speoris. Same view has been followed here. 



11. Tadarida aegyptiaca (E. Geoffroy, 1818) : Ellerman & Morrison-Scot (1951) have 

treated Tadarida tragata Dobson as a species distict from Tadarida aegyptiaca (E. 

Geoffroy). Chaturvedi (1964) has shown that tragata is conspecific with aegyptiaca. 

Ellerman & Morrison-Scot (1951) have also recognized two subspecies of Tadarida 

aegyptiaca in India, viz. T. aegyptiaca thomasi and T. a. gossei. However, Sinha (1970) 

has synonymised gossei with thomasi. Bates and Harrison (1997) followed the same view 

of Chaturvedi (1964) and Sinha (1970). According to Das (2003) tragata has priority 

over gossei and thomasi, so the Indian population should be named as Tadarida 

aegyptiaca tragata (Dobson). But Simmons (2005) listed both tragatus and thomasi as 

distinct subspecies. 

12. Tadarida teniotis (Rafinesque, 1814) : Agrawal et al (1992) and Das (2003) recognized 

Indian population as Tadarida teniotis insignis (Blyth). Simmons (2005) promoted this 

taxon to a specific rank and refered all Indian population (West Bengal) as Tadarida 

teniotis teniotis only. 

13. Scotomanes ornatus (Blyth, 1851): Ellerman & Morrison-Scot (1951) have recognized 

two subspecies in the non-Chinese range of Scotomanes ornatus, viz. S. o. imbrensis 

Thomas, 1921 (Jaintia Hills) and nominate subspecies S. o. ornatus (Blyth, 1851) for 

other areas, including Khasi Hills. Das et al. (1995) synonymised S. o. imbrensis with S. 

o. ornatus. Sinha (1999) agreed with Das et al (1995) and recognized two subspecies 

from Noth-East India i) S. o. sinensis Thomas, 1921 from the eastern part of range with 

specimens slightly smaller and darker in coloration and ii) S. o. ornatus having bigger 

specimens from more westernly locations. However, Simmons (2005) has recognized 

both the subspecies: imbrensis and sinensis. 

14. Pipistrellus javanicus babu Thomas, 1915 : Corbet and Hill (1992) considered 

Pipistrellus babu Sinha, 1969 conspecific with P. javanicus and also synonymised 

Pipistrellus peguensis under javanicus. As per Bates and Harrison (1997) the mainland of 

the Indian subcontinent population are referred to as P. javanicus babu and those from 

the Nicobar Island to P. javanicus camortae and synonymised peguensis under 

javanicus. Simmons (2005) recognized three subspecies Pipistrellus javanicus babu, P. 

javanicus camortae and Pipistrellus javanicus peguensis. The same view has been 

followed here. 

15. Pipistrellus tenuis mimus Wroughton, 1899 : Bates and Harrison (1997) synonymised 

Pipistrellus mimus glaucillus Wroughton under P. tenuis and recognized all the 

populations from Indian subcontinent as P. tenuis mimus. 

16. Plecotus austriacus wardi Thomas, 1911: Distribution of the species Plecotus 

austriacus (J. Fischer, 1829) in India has not been shown by Simmons (2005). However 

she recognizes wardi as a valid subspecies with Type locality : Leh, Ladak, Kashmir, 

north-west India. Following this information the species has retained in the Indian list. 

17. Myotis mystacinus nipalensis Dobson, 1871 : Though Simmons (2005) has not included 

nipalensis within Indian limits, it has been listed in the current list following Bates and 

Harrison (1997), Alfred et al (2002), Ghosh (2008). 



18. Kerivoula hardwickii (Horsfield, 1824): Ellerman & Morrison-Scott (1951) recognized 

three subspecies viz. K. h. hardwickei (Horsfield), K. h. depressa Miller and K. h. crypta 

Wroughton & Ryley from India. Bates and Harrison (1997) and Das (2003) referred 

Indian population to Kerivoula hardwickii depressa Miller (with crypta as synonym). 

Corbet and Hill (1992) and Sinha (1999) found no significant differences in above all 

three taxa and synonymised depressa and crypta with the nominate species K. hardwickii. 

Simmons (2005) also followed the same view. 

References : 

Agrawal, V. C., Das, P. K., Chakraborty, S., Ghose, R.K., Mandal, A.K. Chakraborty, T.K., 

Poddar, A.K., Lal. J.P., Bhattacharya, T. P. and Ghosh, M.K. 1992. Mammalia. In : State 

Fauna Series 3 : Fauna of West Bengal, Part I : 27 – 169. (Publ. Zoological Survey of 

India, Calcutta ) 

Alfred, J.R.B., Sinha, N. K. and Chakraborty, S. 2002. Checklist of Mammals of India, Rec. zool. 

Surv. India, Occ. Paper No. 199 : 1-289. (Published by the Director, Zool. Surv. India, 

Kolkata). 

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India : 1-568. (Published by the Director, Zool. Surv. India, Kolkata). 

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Museum, Sevenoaks, Kent, U.K., 258pp. 

Brosset, A. 1962a. The bats of Central and Western India. Part I. J. Bombay nat. Hist. Soc., 59 

(1): 1-57. 

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(2): 583 – 624. 

Brosset, A. 1962c. The bats of Central and Western India. Part III. J. Bombay nat. Hist. Soc., 59 

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( 2 ): 337 – 355. 

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Occ. Paper No. 217 : 164pp. 

Das, P. K., Ghose, R. K., Chakraborty, T. K., Bhattacharya, T. P. and Ghosh, M. K. 1995. 

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De, J. K., Mandal, A. K. and Ghosh, M. K. 2006. Mammals, In Fauna of Arunachal Pradesh, 

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Ellerman, J.R., and Morrison-Scot, T.C.S. 1951 (1966 2 nd ed.). Checklist of Palaeartic and 

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London,810pp. 

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by the Director, Zool. Surv. India, Kolkata). 

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Part II : Microchiroptera. Rec. zool. Surv. India, Occ. Paper No. 281 : 1-339 (Published 

by the Director, Zool. Surv. India, Kolkata). 

Kock, D. and Bhat, H. R. 1994. Hipposideros hypophyllus n. sp. of the H. bicolor group from 

Peninsular India (Mammalia : Chiroptera : Hipposideridae). Senckenbergiana boil. 73 (1- 

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A Checklist of Valid Indian Bat Species - Zoological Survey of India

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