Taxonomic Separation of Eptesicus (Chiroptera:Vespertilionidae) in South Eastern Australia by Discriminant Analysis and Electrophoresis

Abstract

Eptesicus from south-eastern New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory were used in a combination of multivariate (discriminant) analysis of skeletal dimensions and isozyme electrophoresis of liver, plasma and red cell proteins. Both techniques separated the bats unequivocally into three groups. The groups identified by discriminant analysis were the same as those derived by the electrophoretic method and almost certainly belong to distinct biological species, for even when they occur sympatrically there are many fixed gene differences between them. The three groups are shown to correspond to the species E. vulturnus, E. regulus and E. sagittula. Structural differences between these species and methods of identifying them are discussed.