Rodents (Order Rodentia) are one of the most speciose and diversified groups of terrestrial mammals with several beneficial roles in nature. They constitute 2277 known species which make up 42% of total mammal fauna. They are reported to inhabit in all continents except Antarctica and several small islands. They perform several beneficial roles in the environment. Despite of several beneficial roles, rodents are also a source of zoonotic pathogens. Rodents are important reservoirs of evolving zoonotic diseases because they come into close contact with livestock in the agricultural background and humans in urban zones. Almost 10% of the rodent population is either a carrier or reservoir of zoonotic pathogens of public health significance. Rapid development of agricultural and industrial change throughout the globe, has led to a significant increase in zoonotic borne disease of rodents. Rodents transfer pathogenic agents to humans through direct contact, and animals or via contamination of human food, water with rodents’ stool, or through urine. Arthropod vectors on the skin of several rodents are also able to carry zoonotic pathogens. Several factors regulate human rodent pathogen transmission like rodent population handling, human socio-economic lifestyle, and even war. Human activities such as animal trade, migration, urbanization, and large-scale traveling are facilitating factors in rodent-pathogens transfer.

The lack of morphological differentiation among chiropteran species and cryptic speciation impedes species identification. So, DNA-based approaches boost species identification and are increasing biological diversity. Rhyneptesicus nasutus (Sind Serotine Bat) is a rarely distributed and poorly studied species in Pakistan. This study explores the range extension of Sind bat within the territorial limits of Pakistan from Sind and Baluchistan to Federally Administered Areas (FATA) of Pakistan. No molecular record exists for the species in Pakistan. In the present study, we for the first time present the data to confirm the species identification by genetic marker (cytochrome b) along with morphometric analysis of Rhyneptesicus nasutus from Pakistan. The neighbor-joining tree based on Kimura-2 parameters was created to infer the phylogenetic analyses. We sequenced the cytochrome b gene segment and conducted a phylogenetic analysis with previously published data from other countries. Sequences from Pakistan made a clade with Iranian Rhyneptesicus nasutus species suggesting a common ancestry. Various morphometric parameters (mean values) were measured like Head and Body length (44.3mm), Tail length (43.4mm), Hindfoot length (8.3mm), Forearm length (35.7mm), and Ear length 36mm while 5th Metacarpal Length, 4th Metacarpal Length, and 3rd Metacarpal Lengths were 33.2mm, 34.7mm, 35.3mm. Approaches based on DNA barcoding reveals high diversity of bat species in the study area. The data will enable researchers to build an improved evolutionary landscape of the Serotine bats from this region and subsequently reconstruct a detailed evolutionary history of the genus. Further research is required to test other molecular markers to support the findings of the current study in Pakistan.