Bats

Horseshoe bat

Kindom:  Animalia

Phylum:  Chordata

Class:      Mammalia

Order:     Chiroptera

Bats are flying mammals and are nocturnal in habit. 76 species exist worldwide out of which 5 have been reported in Pakistan. Vernacular name of bats used in Pakistan are ; chamgadar, Chamchrik, 

Bats play a significant role in controlling insect population as well as in pollination of plants. Horseshoe bats are of greater interest now to public health as they are the source of coronaviruses and are also considered as a cause of COVID-19 pandemic.  Horsehshoe bat species also occur in different parts of the country. 

As cited in a chinese research article in 2007 horseshoe bats were linked with corona viruses. 

This resurgence led to discovery of 2 novel human CoVs ; identification of SARS-like CoVs in horseshoe bats (Rhinolophus macrotis, R. ferrumequinum, R. pearsoni, and R. sinicus) and identification of other CoVs in bat species (R. sinicus, R. ferrumequinum, Miniopterus magnater [M. magnater has been misidentified as M. schreibersi (8) in reports on SARS-like CoV], Pipistrellus abramus, P. pipistrellus, Tylonycteris pachypus, Myotis ricketti, and Scotophilus kuhlii).

Reference:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2851503/)