Strelkov's Long-eared Bat

Strelkov's long-eared bat was described in 2006 from specimens previously assigned first to Ward's and later to the grey long-eared bat. Genetic and morphological evidence established that the population represented a distinct species. It is named for Russian mammalogist Petr Strelkov. Its long ears identify the genus, but the revision history shows why external appearance alone is inadequate for separating Central Asian Plecotus. (Spitzenberger et al. 2006)

The species inhabits xeric mountain ranges of Central Asia, extending from northeastern Iran through the Pamir and Tien Shan toward northwestern China. Records come from montane and forest-steppe habitats. Mongolia appears in the project's accepted national checklist, but the opened species account did not explicitly map a Mongolian range, so no local distribution or viewing recommendation is inferred. Diet, roost choice, and reproduction were also not supported. (Wikipedia, general species account; Mammal Diversity Database)