India, Sept. 24 -- A new species of golden-haired tube-nosed bat - Harpiola isodon - was found at two locations in Mizoram, taking the number of bat species in the country to 136.

"Based on morphometric and genetic analyses of a recently captured specimen from Mizoram state in India, we report the sighting of Harpiola isodon from India and extend its eastward range by over 1,000 km," an article in the latest edition of the zoological journal Zootaxa, published on Wednesday, said.

The Harpiola isodon, with a forearm length of 32-36 mm, is characterised by its striking golden-tipped hairs on the body and distinctive tube-like protruding nostrils. It was found at Hmuifang village of Aizawl district by bat researcher Uttam Saikia of the Shi...