University of Isfahan Taxonomy and Biosystematics 3115-9001 9 30 2017 05 22 Taxonomic status of Rhinopoma muscatellum (Chiroptera: Rhinopomatidae) in Iran using morphological characters جایگاه آرایه‌شناختی خفاش دم‌موشی مسقطی (Rhinopoma muscatellum) در ایران بر اساس صفت‌های ریخت‌شناختی 31 50 22439 10.22108/tbj.2017.100562.0 EN Vahid Akmali Assistant Professor, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran Somayeh Esmaeili Rineh Assistant Professor, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran Zeynab Karvand M. Sc. Student of scientific board, Biology, Faculty of Science, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran Journal Article 2016 10 07 <strong>Abstract</strong> <br /><em>Rhinopoma muscatellum</em> Thomas, 1903 is one of the six mouse-tailed bats (Rhinopomatidae) that traditionally was considered as one of the most ancient chiropteran. <em>R. muscatellum</em> has been reported from Oman, India, Iran, Yemen, Afghanistan, and Pakistan so far. This taxon is widely distribution from south to west and east in Iran. This species is as an extremely frequent bat in the southern part of Iran that reported at least from 52 localities. The taxonomic status of <em>R. muscatellum</em> species in Iran is unclear, as different researchers have reported either one or two subspecies. In the current study using morphological data including nine external and 34 craniodental characters in 190 specimens from 20 caves, the taxonomic status of this species is reviewed. Morphological analysis was done with univariate and multivariate statistical methods in SPSS and PAST Softwares. Our results did not show statistical significant delimitation between male and females. Also, didn’t reveal any considerable differences between populations. Our findings indicated that all the Iranian specimens of <em>R. muscatellum </em>belong to one subspecies. Therefore, we suggest that <em>R. m. muscatellum</em> Thomas, 1903 and <em>R. m. seianum</em> Thomas, 1913 should be synonymized as the same subspecies, with the name <em>R. m. muscatellum.</em> https://tbj.ui.ac.ir/article_22439_2583b943391bba1a41a702492743357d.pdf