The Distribution of Bats (Mammalia: Chiroptera) in Syria

Abstract

The present study consists of both new records and literary data for 23 species of bats reported from Syria. Sixteen species of bats belonging to 6 families have been collected either by mist nets or recovered from owl pellets during the present study. Families Pteropodidae, Emballonuridae, Hipposideridae, and Molossidae are represented by a single species for each family; Rousettus aegyptiacus, Taphozous nudiventris, Asellia tridens, and Tadarida teniotis respectively. Family Rhinolophidae is represented by three species; Rhinolophus ferrumequinum, Rhinolophus hipposideros, and Rhinolophus euryale. Family Vespertilionidae is represented by fi ve genera (Eptesicus, Myotis, Pipistrellus, Otonycteris, and Miniopterus) and nine species; Eptesicus bottae, Eptesicus serotinus, Myotis myotis, Myotis blythii, Myotis emarginatus, Myotis capaccinii, Pipistrellus kuhlii, Otonycteris hemprichii, and Miniopterus schreibersii respectively. We also include distributional data for seven species which have been collected previously but have not during the present study (Rhinolophus blasii, Rhinolophus mehelyi, Myotis aurascens, Myotis nattereri, Pipistrellus pipistrellus, Hypsugo savii, and Plecotus macrobullaris). Thus, the bat fauna of Syria consists of 23 species belonging to twelve genera and six families. External and cranial measurements are given for most species. Notes on biology and ecology as well as distribution maps and a complete listing for all previous and recent records are provided for each species. Tadarida teniotis is mentioned for the fi rst time for Syria in this review.