Cryptic mammalian species: a new species of whiskered bat (Myotis alcathoen sp) in Europe

The analysis of morphological, behavioural and genetic characters of whiske red bats revealed a new European bat species within the family Vespertilion idae. We describe the morphology, karyology, genetic similarity, ecology an d distribution of Myotis alcathoe n. sp. It closely resembles Myotis mystac inus, Myotis brandtii and Myotis ikonnikovi in morphology, but all four spe cies show clear genetic differences in two mitochondrial genes (ND1 and 12S rRNA). Myotis alcathoe n. sp. is the smallest species among the European w hiskered bats and uses the highest-frequency echolocation calls of all the European Myotis species. It prefers to hunt in small valleys with deciduous trees and flowing water, which is an endangered habitat. Records from Gree ce and Hungary indicate a distribution range in south-eastern Europe.