A review on history and taxonomic status of bats in Iran

Bats (order Chiroptera) are one of the most diverse, abundant and widely distributed orders of mammals and the only one with the capacity of powered flight. Nearly, ۱۴۰۰ species of ۲۳۰ genera and ۲۱ families can be found all over the world except in the northern and southern polar areas, representing approximately ۲۰%of all mammalian species. Chiroptera can be divided into the two suborders Megachiroptera (old world fruit bats) are represented by only one family with ۴۶ genera and ۱۹۱ species and Microchiroptera (echolocating bats) comprise ۲۰ families include ۱۸۴ genera with ۱۲۱۰ species. Despite the importance of bats in providing ecosystem services as well as natural hosting reservoirs, so far the least study has been done on them compared to other mammals. Diverse physical geography and close vicinity of the Iranian plateau to the major biogeographic zones has caused this country to possess a variety of fauna unequaled in other parts of the Middle East. Bat biodiversity, like many other taxa is considerably high. Bats of Iran have been thoroughly studied since long time ago, both by Iranian and foreign zoologists. By the present taxonomic arrangement finally, ۵۱species of bats have been reported from Iran. These bats belonging to the families of Pteropodidae (۱ species),Rhinopomatidae (۳ species), Emballonuridae (۲ species), Rhinolophidae (۵ species), Hipposideridae (۳ species), Vespertilionidae (۳۴ species), Miniopteridae (۱ species), and Molossidae (۲ species). However, our knowledge about distribution and abundance of bats in Iran is far from adequate. For example from the ۵۱ species of bats reported of Iran, six species have been reported only once, ۱۷ species are known from less than ۱۰ localities and only seven species are known from more than ۵۰ localities. There may be further possibility to observe more bat species to occur in Iran because there are several species reported from neighboring countries in bordering areas to Iran. These species include Rhinolophus lepidus from Afghanistan to be seen in the northeast (Khorassan province), Plecotus turkmenicus, and Rhinolophus bocharicus from Turkmenistan to be present in similar habitats of NE and Pipistrellus rueppellii from Iraq to be found in western Iran. Also, Myotis myotis occurs in western Turkey, It’s occurrence in NW Iran is possible. Only recently, intensive studies on bats have provided opportunities to make available new data on the taxonomy and ecology of bats. Future studies on bat research require much attention on involving ethical values in scientific studies, their importance in providing ecosystem services, expanding molecular studies, a survey of their viruses and their relationship to emerging diseases, re-organizing current conservation assessments, evaluating the effect of land use alternation, global warming and caves destruction on the Iranian bats, and also to enhance public attention to conservation oriented research projects.

Keywords:

Mammalia , Chiroptera , Taxonomy , Conservation , Viruses and emerging diseases