Eptesicus Explained

Eptesicus is a genus of bats, commonly called house bats or serotine bats, in the family Vespertilionidae. The genus name is likely derived from the Greek words ptetikos 'able to fly' or petomai 'house flier', although this is not certain.^[1]

Species

Traditional

The following species have traditionally been placed in Eptesicus^[2]

2023 proposed revision

A 2023 study noted divisions within Eptesicus when considering physical characteristics, genetics, echolocation characteristics, and divergence timing, with the authors concluding that Eptesicus should be split into three genera. They described a new genus, Neoeptesicus, and elevated the subgenus Cnephaeus to genus rank.^[3]

The Old World Eptesicus species were moved to Cnephaeus:

• Cnephaeus anatolicus
• Cnephaeus bottae
• Cnephaeus floweri
• Cnephaeus gobiensis
• Cnephaeus hottentotus
• Cnephaeus isabellinus
• Cnephaeus japonensis
• Cnephaeus kobayashii
• Cnephaeus nilssonii
• Cnephaeus ognevi
• Cnephaeus pachyomus
• Cnephaeus pachyotis
• Cnephaeus platyops
• Cnephaeus serotinus
• Cnephaeus tatei

The Neotropical species were placed in Neoptesicus:

• Neoeptesicus andinus
• Neoeptesicus brasiliensis
• Neoeptesicus chiriquinus
• Neoeptesicus diminutus
• Neoeptesicus furinalis
• Neoeptesicus innoxius
• Neoeptesicus langeri
• Neoeptesicus orinocensis
• Neoeptesicus taddeii
• Neoeptesicus ulapesensis

These revisions left only two species in Eptesicus:

• Eptesicus fuscus
• Eptesicus guadeloupensis

Notes and References

1. Book: Schwartz . Charles Walsh . Schwartz . Elizabeth Reeder . The Wild Mammals of Missouri . 2001 . . . 9780826213594. 84.
2. Acosta Salvatierra . Luis Hernán . Poma-Urey . José Luis . Ossa-López . Paula A . Rivera-Páez . Fredy A . Ramírez-Chaves . Héctor E . 2021-09-19 . A new species of Eptesicus (Mammalia: Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae), from the sub-Andean Forest of Santa Cruz, Bolivia . Therya . 12 . 3 . 391–409 . 10.12933/therya-21-1119 . 2007-3364. free .
3. 10.1590/S1984-4689.v40.e22029 . Taxonomic re-evaluation of New World Eptesicus and Histiotus (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae), with the description of a new genus . 2023 . Cláudio . Vinícius C. . Novaes . Roberto L.M. . Gardner . Alfred L. . Nogueira . Marcelo R. . Wilson . Don E. . Maldonado . Jesús E. . Oliveira . João A. . Moratelli . Ricardo . Zoologia (Curitiba) . 40 . free .