Resumen

BEJARANO-BONILLA, DAVID ALFONSO; YATE-RIVAS, ALEXANDER  y  BERNAL-BAUTISTA, MANUEL HERNANDO. Bat diversity and distribution along an altitudinal transect in the Tolima region of Colombia. Caldasia [online]. 2007, vol.29, n.2, pp.297-308. ISSN 0366-5232.

The diversity and distribution of bats was recorded on the eastern slope of the Central mountain chain in the Department of the Tolima, along an altitudinal transect, divided in four sample zones (I: 350-1000, II: 1000-2000, III: 2000-3000, IV: 3000-4000). Forty-two species in 21 genera, and four families were identified. Phyllostomidae was the most diverse and abundant family, with 34 species and 92.5 % of the number of collected individuals. The zone with the highest diversity and abundance was zone II, corresponding to intermediate elevations. The Sturnira genus presented the wider range of distribution, while the decreasing number of species of the Artibeus genus was linked to increases in altitude. Species with wider altitudinal distribution ranges were Sturnira lilium, Sturnira luisi, Sturnira erythromos, Sturnira ludovici, Carollia perspicillata, Myotis keaysi, Artibeus cf. phaeotis and Desmodus rotundus. Only one species, Histiotus montanus, was registered at 3000 m. Our study adds eleven new bat records for the Department of Tolima: Chiroderma salvini, Lonchophylla mordax, Molossops planirostris, Myotis keaysi, Promops centralis, Pteronotus parnellii, Sturnira aratathomasi, S. bogotensis, S. luisi, S. tildae, Vampyrops aurarius, and five new records for the Andean zone of the country: Ch. salvini, M. planirostris, S. luisi, S. tildae and V. aurarius. This study makes evident that there are still regions that need to be systematically studied, because they contribute important information about of the community of bats in Colombia.

Palabras clave : Altitudinal gradient; Distribution of bats; Fauna of Colombia.

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