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New-Found 'Sucker-Footed' bat species reveal their survival capacity even in dry forests

newfound bats are real suckers 9

Among the bat families, only one sucker-foot was known all these days. But, its not one, but two bats species that are real suckers! Scientists have recently discovered a second bat species, named Myzopoda schliemanni, that have adhesive organs — or suckers — attached to its thumbs and hind feet.

It allows the creatures to climb and cling upright to smooth tree leaves. This new species — belonging to a family of bats — was spotted in the dry western forests of Madagascar, which is found nowhere else in the world.

Previously, scientists knew of a sister species of this bat — Myzopoda aurita — that is found only in Madagascar’s humid eastern forests. This finding has come as a relief to the conservationists, before its finding, sucker-footed bats were considered endangered. It is because there was only one known species in the family and was also distributed limitedly across the world.

And per the discovery of this new bat in a dry forest, the sucker-footed bat family members seem to be capable of surviving even if tropical forests are lost to deforestation. Deforestation is a huge issue in Madagascar where less than 10 percent of the country’s original forest cover remains.

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