Paraguana moustached bat
Species of bat
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Paraguana moustached bat (Pteronotus paraguanensis) occurs only on the Paraguaná Peninsula of Venezuela.[1] The entire population uses three caves, one of which is subject to human vandalism.[1] Their total range is less than 400 km2 (150 mi2).[1] In 2008, the caves where the bat is found were protected by the creation of the Cuevas de Paraguaná Wildlife Sanctuary–the first wildlife sanctuary in Venezuela.[2]
| Paraguana moustached bat | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Infraclass: | Placentalia |
| Order: | Chiroptera |
| Family: | Mormoopidae |
| Genus: | Pteronotus |
| Species: | P. paraguanensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Pteronotus paraguanensis (Linares & Ojasti, 1974) | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Taxonomy
There is uncertainty if this taxa represents a species, or if it is a subspecies of Parnell's mustached bat.[1] Based on morphology, the bats were elevated from a subspecies to a species in 2008.[3] The status of the bat as a full species was affirmed by genetic sequencing.[4]
Conservation
In their 2008 assessment, the IUCN listed the Paraguana moustached bat as critically endangered.[1] The 2016 assessment, however, downlisted them to endangered.[1] In 2013, Bat Conservation International listed this species as one of the 35 species of its worldwide priority list of conservation.[5] In 2015, Bat Conservation International began fundraising for bat detectors to better survey the critical habitat necessary for the species' survival.[6] The species is especially threatened by intentional destruction by humans; in 1997, thousands of dead bats were found in one of the caves after locals set tires on fire at the cave entrance.[3] Some Venezuelans mistakenly believe that all bats are vampire bats, and should therefore be exterminated.[3] To reduce vandalism and protect the bats, a gate was installed in 2003 at the entrance of one of the caves, with gaps large enough for bats to come and go, but too small for human passage.[3] After the gate was installed, the number of bats using the cave "substantially increased".[3]