Formosan golden tube-nosed bat


The Formosan golden tube-nosed bat is native to the high-altitude regions of Taiwan.

Taxonomy and etymology

It was described as a new species in 2006.
The holotype had been collected in Yuli Wildlife Refuge in Zhuoxi, Taiwan in 1998.
Its species name "isodon" means "equal-toothed."
The researchers who described the species chose this name because of the almost-equal basal area of the canines, first premolars, and second premolars.

Description

It is a medium-sized tube-nosed bat, with an average forearm length of.
Its guard hairs have shiny, golden tips, inspiring its common name.
Its dorsal fur is very long, while the ventral fur is shorter.
Its fur texture is woolly.
Individual hairs are dark brown at their bases, bright yellow in the middle, and dark brown again at their tips.
Its uropatagium is densely furred both above and below.
Its ears are long; its tragi are long.

Range and habitat

It has been documented in the mountainous regions of Taiwan, from elevations of above sea level.
In 2006, it was published that the species had been documented in Vietnam for the first time.

Conservation

It is currently assessed as least concern by the IUCN.