Integrative taxonomy places Asian species of Falsistrellus (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) into Hypsugo

Abstract

The vespertilionid genus Falsistrellus currently contains three Asian (F. affinis, F. petersi and F. mordax) and two Australian (F. tasmaniensis and F. mackenziei) species. The Australian species are characterised with distinct external and craniodental traits, whereas the Asian taxa morphologically more closely resemble Hypsugo and the published molecular biological studies also suggested their close phylogenetic affinities. Herewith we provide sequence data of mitochondrial and nuclear genes for both Australian species for the first time, which, together with the combined cranial, dental, and multivariate statistical evidences provide a solid basis to place Asian members of Falsistrellus into Hypsugo and restrict Falsistrellus s. str. to Australia. The phylogenetic reconstructions also revealed the presence of a well-supported ‘Australian clade’ within the Vespertilionini radiation, containing three genera, Falsistrellus, Chalinolobus and Vespadelus, endemic to the Australasian zoogeographical region.