Richness of insectivorous bats in a chaparral area in the municipality of Tecate, Baja California, Mexico

Abstract: Twenty species of bats have been reported in the state of Baja California, however, there is not much information available for this group due to the lack of local studies. Therefore, the objective of this study was to increase the knowledge about the actual existing chiropteran fauna in Tecate, Baja California. For this purpose, a combined sampling was performed by capturing specimens using mist nets and an ultrasonic bat detector. The sampling took place from September to November 2013 and from May to June 2014. Five species of the Vespertillionidae family were registered with mist nets, and the ultrasonic records detected 12 species of the Vespertilionidae, Molossidae and Phyllostomidae families. The fact that 4 scantly documented species were detected in the area (Eumops perotis, Lasiurus xanthinus, Lasiurus blossevillii and Myotis melanorhinus) is noteworthy. The results obtained provide the first data about echolocation sounds of bats in this locality. Thus, the information obtained in this research is relevant to the implementation of strategies for the conservation of bats in this area.