Electrophoretic Resolution of Species Boundaries in Australian Microchiroptera. IV. The Molossidae (Chiroptera)

Abstract

Allozyme electrophoresis of 35 loci in 156 specimens of Australian bats belonging to the Molossidae was used to help elucidate the species-level taxonomy of the group in Australia. The electrophoretic data support the current species-level taxonomy of Tadarida australis and Chaerephon jobensis. However, for specimens currently allocated to the genus Mormopterus, the electrophoretic data fail to support any previous species-level account. On the electrophoretic data, a minimum of five species of the genus Mormopterus occur in Australia. A single specimen of a sixth species, whose generic affinities are undetermined, was also found.