A reassessment of the taxonomic status and distribution of the subspecies of Lyroderma lyra (Chiroptera: Megadermatidae)

Lyroderma lyra is one of the six currently recognised species of the family Megadermatidae. Previous studies have suggested subspecific division within L. lyra, wherein the nominate subspecies is predominantly distributed in South Asia, and the other subspecies, L. lyra sinense is occurring in southern China and Southeast Asia. Based on the congruent results of comparative morphology of skulls and bacula, as well as phylogenetic tree reconstructions ‒ the first ones including both subspecies and incorporating the most extensive geographic sampling of “sinense” to date ‒ using COI and cytb sequences, we have elevated the Southeast Asian subspecies to a distinct species status, Lyroderma sinense.