Contribution to the knowledge of the distribution of bats (Chiroptera) in Algeria

Abstract

Algeria is the largest country in Africa and for the most part has not yet been surveyed for bat species. To contribute to the knowledge of the distribution of Algerian bat fauna, between 2011 and 2026 we surveyed 70 sites from 19 provinces across the country, mostly roost sites but also using mist nets. We found 19 species from six families, out of a total of 27 species from seven families currently recognized for Algeria. The most frequently found species were the Maghrebian mouse-eared bat ( Myotis punicus ), the greater horseshoe bat ( Rhinolophus ferrumequinum ), and the common bent-wing bat ( Miniopterus schreibersii ). Our observations represent several new findings regarding the distribution of bat species in the country, including, for example, the southernmost record for the Mediterranean horseshoe bat ( Rhinolophus euryale ), the northernmost record for the Egyptian mouse-tailed bat ( Rhinopoma cystops ), the southernmost and westernmost records for Geoffroy’s bat ( Myotis emarginatus ), and the southernmost record for the desert long-eared bat ( Otonycteris hemprichii ). Overall, this work provides 18 new provincial records for 11 species, contributing significantly to our understanding of bat distribution in Algeria and informing future conservation planning.