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A group of scientists from Spain has recently discovered a «very rare and vulnerable» species of bats in North Africa, revealed a study on Tuesday. The newly discovered species, known as «Myotis zenatius», live in «caves in mountainous regions of Morocco and Algeria», reports AFP.
The study conducted by the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), reveals that the bat species living in the Kingdom is «known only from three localities in the central part and western coast, and from one locality in the hills of Rekkam, in the eastern part of Morocco».
Through this new study, researchers managed to spot other localities where these bats live. According to the same source, the Moroccan mammals live in several localities, including Azrou, and Errachidia.
«The species is thus rare but widely distributed across Morocco from the northern slopes of the Riff (near Tetouan) to the dry mountains of the Great Atlas», the same study pointed out.
Endangered bat species
The latter stressed on the fact that these rare bats, located in the Kingdom, are surrounded by danger. «The situation may be already worrisome», warned researchers, indicating that their vulnerability is linked to the caves where they live.
«The type locality of the species in Morocco is at the edge of an intensively exploited quarry with an unknown effect on the bats population».
CSIC researchers believe that it is, probably, time to think of protecting these rare and vulnerable bat species in both Morocco and Algeria.
«It is possible that it already deserves to be included on the list of species in danger of extinction», wrote AFP quoting CSIC researchers.
The same study was able to locate other rare bat species in «wooded areas of Europe». The team from the Spanish National Research Council discovered an unknown species of bats in the continent called «Myotis crypticus».
Unlike their cousins in Morocco, which are basically cavedwellers, the European bat species lives in tree-covered areas in Italy, France, Switzerland and Spain, said the team.
And just like «Myotis zenatius», the new European species is «facing growing human pressure», the French press agency concluded.
