Diversity and Conservation of Bats in Saudi Arabia
The bats of Saudi Arabia consist of 30 species and 21 genera within 9 families (Pteropodidae, Rhinopomatidae, Rhinolophidae, Emballonuridae, Nycteridae, Hipposideridae, Miniopteridae, Molossidae, and Vespertilionidae). Some species have been recorded from only one locality: <i>Epomophorus labi...
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MDPI AG
2023-05-01
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| Series: | Diversity |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/15/6/700 |
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| author | Ahmed Al Obaid Faisal Shuraim Ahmad Al Boug Sharif Al Jbour Farah Neyaz Abdul Hadi Aloufi Zuhair Amr |
| author_facet | Ahmed Al Obaid Faisal Shuraim Ahmad Al Boug Sharif Al Jbour Farah Neyaz Abdul Hadi Aloufi Zuhair Amr |
| author_sort | Ahmed Al Obaid |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The bats of Saudi Arabia consist of 30 species and 21 genera within 9 families (Pteropodidae, Rhinopomatidae, Rhinolophidae, Emballonuridae, Nycteridae, Hipposideridae, Miniopteridae, Molossidae, and Vespertilionidae). Some species have been recorded from only one locality: <i>Epomophorus labiatus</i>, <i>Hipposideros megalotis</i> and <i>Asellia patrizii</i>. The taxonomy of some species was updated. Details on the past and present distribution of the bats were included along with available data on their habitat preference and biology. An analysis of the bat fauna of Saudi Arabia revealed that they have six major zoogeographical affinities; Afrotropical (eight species), Saharo-Sindian (three species), Afrotropical-Palaearctic (four species), Palaearctic (four species), oriental (one species), and Afrotropical-oriental (two species). <i>Asellia patrizii</i> stands as an endemic species known only from Eretria, Ethiopia, and Farasan Island in Saudi Arabia, and <i>Rhyneptesicus nasutus</i> is considered as a Middle East endemic species with distribution confined to Iraq, Iran, and Afghanistan, reaching as far as western Arabia. At least six more species are suspected to occur in Saudi Arabia, since they have been reported from neighboring Yemen. The threats to and conservation status of the bats of Saudi Arabia were highlighted. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T02:34:46Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-720109cf57af4d63985c74992356d3c4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1424-2818 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T02:34:46Z |
| publishDate | 2023-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Diversity |
| spelling | doaj.art-720109cf57af4d63985c74992356d3c42023-11-18T10:02:17ZengMDPI AGDiversity1424-28182023-05-0115670010.3390/d15060700Diversity and Conservation of Bats in Saudi ArabiaAhmed Al Obaid0Faisal Shuraim1Ahmad Al Boug2Sharif Al Jbour3Farah Neyaz4Abdul Hadi Aloufi5Zuhair Amr6National Centre for Wildlife (NCW), Riyadh 11575, Saudi ArabiaNational Centre for Wildlife (NCW), Riyadh 11575, Saudi ArabiaNational Centre for Wildlife (NCW), Riyadh 11575, Saudi ArabiaNational Centre for Wildlife (NCW), Riyadh 11575, Saudi ArabiaNational Centre for Wildlife (NCW), Riyadh 11575, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Biology, Taibah University, Al Madinah Al Munawwarah 42392, Saudi ArabiaNational Centre for Wildlife (NCW), Riyadh 11575, Saudi ArabiaThe bats of Saudi Arabia consist of 30 species and 21 genera within 9 families (Pteropodidae, Rhinopomatidae, Rhinolophidae, Emballonuridae, Nycteridae, Hipposideridae, Miniopteridae, Molossidae, and Vespertilionidae). Some species have been recorded from only one locality: <i>Epomophorus labiatus</i>, <i>Hipposideros megalotis</i> and <i>Asellia patrizii</i>. The taxonomy of some species was updated. Details on the past and present distribution of the bats were included along with available data on their habitat preference and biology. An analysis of the bat fauna of Saudi Arabia revealed that they have six major zoogeographical affinities; Afrotropical (eight species), Saharo-Sindian (three species), Afrotropical-Palaearctic (four species), Palaearctic (four species), oriental (one species), and Afrotropical-oriental (two species). <i>Asellia patrizii</i> stands as an endemic species known only from Eretria, Ethiopia, and Farasan Island in Saudi Arabia, and <i>Rhyneptesicus nasutus</i> is considered as a Middle East endemic species with distribution confined to Iraq, Iran, and Afghanistan, reaching as far as western Arabia. At least six more species are suspected to occur in Saudi Arabia, since they have been reported from neighboring Yemen. The threats to and conservation status of the bats of Saudi Arabia were highlighted.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/15/6/700ChiropteraSaudi Arabiadistributionthreatsconservation |
| spellingShingle | Ahmed Al Obaid Faisal Shuraim Ahmad Al Boug Sharif Al Jbour Farah Neyaz Abdul Hadi Aloufi Zuhair Amr Diversity and Conservation of Bats in Saudi Arabia Diversity Chiroptera Saudi Arabia distribution threats conservation |
| title | Diversity and Conservation of Bats in Saudi Arabia |
| title_full | Diversity and Conservation of Bats in Saudi Arabia |
| title_fullStr | Diversity and Conservation of Bats in Saudi Arabia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Diversity and Conservation of Bats in Saudi Arabia |
| title_short | Diversity and Conservation of Bats in Saudi Arabia |
| title_sort | diversity and conservation of bats in saudi arabia |
| topic | Chiroptera Saudi Arabia distribution threats conservation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/15/6/700 |
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