Species diversity of bats (Mammalia : Chiroptera) in Iwokrama Forest, Guyana, and the Guianan subregion: implications for conservation

Fourteen species of bats are reported for the first time from Guyana (Sacco pteryx gymnura, Micronycteris brachyotis, M. homezi, Lichonycteris obscura, Anoura latidens, Vampyressa pusilla, Vampyrodes caraccioli, Eptesicus chir iquinus, Cynomops paranus, Molossops neglectus, Molossus sp., Molossus coib ensis, Molossus sinaloae, and Promops centralis) bringing the known bat div ersity for the country to 121 species. Information including measurements, reproductive data, distribution, and taxonomy are provided for these specie s. Seven of these new records were collected in the Iwokrama International Rain Forest Programme site in central Guyana. Eighty-six bat species are no w documented from Iwokrama Forest which is the highest species diversity fo r bats reported from any protected area in the world. There are, however, f ew tropical sites that have relatively complete inventories. A summary for bat species diversity in southern Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, and French G uiana indicates that at least 146 species of bats are known from the Guiana n subregion. Intense inventory surveys, especially in the often neglected s ubcanopy, suggest that species richness is probably underestimated in most Neotropical areas. Likewise, species-level diversity in the Guianan subregi on is higher than previously suggested. Surveying and monitoring biodiversi ty are critical to developing a National Protected Areas System in Guyana.