‘Very rare’ creature — with wings and hairy face — found on island. It’s a new species

The French island of Corsica is perhaps best known as the birthplace of Napoleon, nicknamed “the Little Corporal.” But recently, a creature of significantly smaller stature was discovered there.

A “very rare” and endangered species of bat was found fluttering around the mountainous Mediterranean island, which is located about 250 miles southeast of Marseille, according to a study published in October in the journal Revue suisse de Zoologie.

Researchers captured specimens of the species during a field survey and performed DNA analyses on their tissue samples, the study said. This revealed they belonged to a previously unknown species in the genus Myptis, which includes over 120 species found throughout six continents.

It was given the name nustrale, researchers said, which means “ours” in the Corsican dialect.

The newfound creature, which has likely been genetically isolated for “a long time,” is considered medium-sized, measuring about an inch and a half long, according to the study.

It’s grayish in color with long ears and a hairy face, researchers said, adding that it is distinguished by a “conspicuous” dark spot on its lower lip, which is absent on other members of the genus.

The nustrale bats were found to hunt in the island’s dense evergreen forests and roost in cliffs and rocky outcroppings, researchers said. A colony of about 60 individuals was also found in an artificial tunnel.

“This new species is endemic to Corsica and is apparently very rare and essentially localized to mountain forests,” researchers said.

“Owing to its restricted distribution, its small population size, and limited population connectivity, it seems highly vulnerable to climate change and thus should be classified as endangered,” researchers added.

Worldwide, there are about 1,400 known species of bats, according to the U.S. Department of the Interior. They’re adapted to live in nearly every type of climate except the poles and extreme deserts.

This story was originally published December 18, 2023 at 1:50 PM with the headline "‘Very rare’ creature — with wings and hairy face — found on island. It’s a new species."