Illustrated field keys to the bats (Mammalia: Chiroptera) of Taiwan

Abstract

Bats of Taiwan, comprising 38 species in total, are biogeographically unique (11 endemic species and 16 endemic subspecies), taxonomically diverse (six families), and play crucial ecosystem roles as seed dispersers or insect suppressors. Many of these bat species were, nevertheless, scientifically described from or newly recorded in Taiwan during the last 20 years, rendering limited knowledge hitherto gained regarding their fundamental ecology and population statuses. To aid ecological research and thus benefit conservation of Taiwan’s bat diversity, we constructed illustrated field keys to all 38 species.

Novel Bat Lyssaviruses Identified by Nationwide Passive Surveillance in Taiwan, 2018–2021

“…Bat species were identified by external morphological characteristics as previously described [ 27 , 28 ]. For the lyssavirus positive case, the bat’s species was further confirmed through the DNA barcoding [ 29 , 30 , 31 ].…”

Landscape and Species Traits Co-Drive Roadkills of Bats in a Subtropical Island

“…The results were further revised by examining both the images and specimens by the first author. Samples were identified to the finest taxonomic level by morphological and craniodental traits following the existing keys in the literature [26,31].…”

“…Taiwan Island houses a diverse bat fauna that contains 33 species of six families [26]. With more than 200 mountain peaks attaining heights over 3000 m on the island, the terrain, climatic conditions, vegetation diversity, and intensity of anthropogenic disturbances vary significantly along the elevational gradient in Taiwan [27][28][29].…”