| Ognev's serotine | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Chiroptera |
| Family: | Vespertilionidae |
| Genus: | Eptesicus |
| Species: | E. ognevi |
| Binomial name | |
| Eptesicus ognevi Bobrinski, 1918 | |
| Synonyms | |
Eptesicus bottae ognevi | |
Ognev's serotine (Eptesicus ognevi) is a species ofvesper bat found in western and centralAsia.[2]
Described in 1918 byNikolay Alekseyevich Bobrinski, it was later synonymized withBotta's serotine (E. bottae) ofWestern Asia andEgypt. However, a 2013 genetic study found that while there were very subtle morphological differences between both taxa,mtDNA andnuclear DNA analyses supported both taxa being distinct from one another, and they were thus split as distinct species.[3] The results of this study have been followed by theAmerican Society of Mammalogists, theIUCN Red List, and theITIS.[1][2][4]
It is known from theCaucasus,Central Asia, and northernSouth Asia, ranging fromGeorgia east toKazakhstan and south toKashmir. It is known from northernAfghanistan,Armenia,Azerbaijan,Georgia, northernmostIndia, northeasternIran, southernKazakhstan,Kyrgyzstan, northernmostPakistan,Tajikistan,Turkmenistan, andUzbekistan. It inhabitsarid andsemiarid habitats includingsteppe and rocky mountains. It roosts in crevices, such as natural rock crevices, buildings, and ruins, including tombs.[1]
This species has a wide range and no major threats, so it is consideredLeast Concern by the IUCN, although it is naturally uncommon in the eastern part of its range. It may be threatened by habitat degradation across parts of its range, and as it roosts in ruins, tourism-related development activities may negatively impact populations.[1]
