Published November 21, 2025 | Version v1
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Diversity, conservation, and endemism of the bats (Chiroptera) of Mexico

  • 1. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
  • 2. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico|BiBio Research Group, Natural Sciences Museum of Granollers, Granollers, Spain
  • 3. Subdirección de Laboratorios y Apoyo Académico, Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia, Mexico City, Mexico

Description

An updated checklist of the bats of Mexico is presented, comprising eight families, 71 genera, and 146 species. Since the last checklist published by Ramírez-Pulido et al. (2014), two new species have been described: Vampyressa villai and Corynorhinus leonpaniaguae, and two more, Phyllops falcatus and Phyllostomus hastatus, were recorded for the first time in the country. Additionally, 22 taxonomic changes have occurred since the previous list. Of the 146 bat species recorded, 20 are endemic to Mexico, highlighting the country's megadiversity, reflection of its unique biogeographic and ecological characteristics. This remarkable distinction also brings significant responsibility, as Mexico holds the highest number of endemic bat species worldwide. Consequently, protecting these endemic species and those at risk of extinction must be a top priority in the country's decision-making processes and conservation policies.

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