VietNamNet Bridge - For years, a group of scientists from the Vietnam Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources, Hungary and Canada has collected data about bat species in Laos and Vietnam. They have identified a new vesper bat species, the hypsugo dolichodon, or the long-toothed pipistrelle.

It was discovered in Cat Tien National Park in Vietnam and Dong Amphan National Biodiversity Area in Laos.

Describing the new species in ZooTaxa, the researchers say the bat is most closely related to the Chinese pipistrelle (Hypsugo pulveratus), which is found across much of eastern Asia. However, the new species not only sports longer fangs than its relative, but is also bigger altogether.

“The new bat species was trapped by Charles M. Francis and Antonio Guillén in 1997. The conspicuous differences could be seen nearly on first sight, but the description of the species awaited until 2014," said lead author, Tamás Görföl with the Hungarian Natural History Museum, told mongabay.com.

It took 17 years to describe the new bat because researchers had to gather more evidence and compare specimens, including ones housed in museums around the world. Genetic research also clearly proved the fanged bat was, until now, unknown to science.

"The large canines may be important in grabbing prey," Görföl said. "It may allow the bat to catch larger insects or beetles with harder exoskeleton; this may be the result of niche segregation."

This means that evolution may have allowed the new species to go after different prey or utilize different habitats than its close relatives, essentially carving out its own ecological niche.

Like most species new-to-science very little is known about the long-toothed pipistrelle. More research, and possible conservation attention, are needed.

Bats are the second most diverse family of mammals (after rodents) with over 1,200 species and counting. Every year, several new species of bat are discovered. Bats play huge ecological roles in the environment including dispersing seeds, keeping insect populations in check, and even pollinating flowers.

TTT/mongabay.com