The first record of Pipistrellus nathusii (Keyserling & Blasius, 1839) (Mammalia, Chiroptera, Vespertilionidae) from Turkmenistan: a vagrant individual or first evidence for an unknown Central Asian migration route?

While Western and Eastern Palearctic regions are well studied regarding the diversity and distribution of bat species, little is known about their occurrence and morphological traits in Central Asia. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted fieldwork in Turkmenistan, covering desert areas east of the Caspian Sea. For the first time, we recorded Nathusius’ pipistrelle, Pipistrellus nathusii , in Central Asia. We captured the male bat on 3 October 2025, at the shore of Lake Uzynshor in the Karakum Desert. The morphological features of the bat allowed for unequivocal identification. The date of capture falls during the species’ autumn migration period. The specimen might either be a vagrant or could be the first indication of an unknown and possibly new migration route east of the Caspian Sea.

Hali tarjima qilinmagan