First record of Vespertilio murinus from the Arabian Peninsula

A specimen of Vespertilio murinus was captured on 13 May 2014 on the grounds of the Breeding Centre for Endangered Arabian Wildlife, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. The species was unambiguously identified based on molecular (cytochrome b gene) and morphological characters. This represents the first record of V. murinus from the Arabian Peninsula. A revised checklist of the Vespertilionidae is presented for the Arabian Peninsula which includes 28 species belonging to 13 genera. A phylogeny for the Arabian vespertilionid species is also presented showing the paraphyly of Eptesicus and the position of Nyctalus within Pipistrellus. Vespertilio murinus, first record, morphological characters, genetic identification, United Arab Emirates, Arabia