Taxonomic status of Rhinopoma muscatellum (Chiroptera: Rhinopomatidae) in Iran using morphological characters

Rhinopoma muscatellum Thomas, 1903 is one of the six mouse-tailed bats (Rhinopomatidae) that traditionally was considered as one of the most ancient chiropteran. R. muscatellum has been reported from Oman, India, Iran, Yemen, Afghanistan, and Pakistan so far. This taxon is widely distribution from south to west and east in Iran. This species is as an extremely frequent bat in the southern part of Iran that reported at least from 52 localities. The taxonomic status of R. muscatellum species in Iran is unclear, as different researchers have reported either one or two subspecies. In the current study using morphological data including nine external and 34 craniodental characters in 190 specimens from 20 caves, the taxonomic status of this species is reviewed. Morphological analysis was done with univariate and multivariate statistical methods in SPSS and PAST Softwares. Our results did not show statistical significant delimitation between male and females. Also, didn’t reveal any considerable differences between populations. Our findings indicated that all the Iranian specimens of R. muscatellum belong to one subspecies. Therefore, we suggest that R. m. muscatellum Thomas, 1903 and R. m. seianum Thomas, 1913 should be synonymized as the same subspecies, with the name R. m. muscatellum.