Spatial and Morphological Insights into the Cryptic Pipistrellus Bat Complex in Türkiye

OpenAlex İngilizce

The genus Pipistrellus includes some of the most morphologically cryptic bat species in the Palearctic region, posing challenges for both taxonomic resolution and biodiversity monitoring. This study presents an integrative assessment of four Pipistrellus species—P. pipistrellus, P. pygmaeus, P. kuhlii, and P. nathusii—in Türkiye, based on fieldwork conducted between 2016 and 2025. A series of adult individuals were captured from multiple provinces and externally measured for nine linear morphometric characters. Discriminant Function Analysis (DFA) revealed significant morphological differentiation, with the highest classification accuracy observed for P. nathusii and P. pygmaeus, while P. pipistrellus and P. pygmaeus showed considerable overlap. In addition to morphometric analyses, we report newly documented locality records that considerably expand the known distributional ranges of P. pygmaeus and P. nathusii, particularly in central and southeastern Türkiye. These findings underscore the importance of systematic field surveys in undersampled regions and highlight the utility of multivariate approaches for distinguishing cryptic bat taxa. This study contributes to a more refined understanding of Pipistrellus diversity and biogeography in Türkiye and provides a basis for future integrative taxonomic studies.