Patterns of morphological and genetic variation in western Indian Ocean members of the Chaerephon 'pumilus' complex (Chiroptera: Molossidae), with the description of a new species from Madagascar

Research on the Chaerephon 'pumilus' bat complex in the western Indian Ocean reveals distinct genetic lineages, including a newly described species from Madagascar. Analysis of cytochrome b and D-loop sequences, alongside morphological traits, demonstrates that populations on Aldabra Atoll cluster with those in the Comoros rather than Madagascar, suggesting historical dispersal and isolation events. Unlike the Comoros, where bats exhibit gene flow across islands separated by 40–80 km, Aldabra's fauna reflects a mixed origin linked to both Madagascar and the Comoros. This study clarifies the complex evolutionary history of these small bats (9–17 g), highlighting how water barriers have driven population differentiation in volant vertebrates.

GOODMAN, S. M., BUCCAS, W., NAIDOO, T., RATRIMOMANARIVO, F., TAYLOR, P. J., & LAMB, J. (2010). Patterns of morphological and genetic variation in western Indian Ocean members of the Chaerephon ‘pumilus’ complex (Chiroptera: Molossidae), with the description of a new species from Madagascar. Zootaxa, 2551(1). https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.2551.1.1