Diversity and Distribution of Chiroptera Species in Munnar and the Adjacent Enchanting Landscape of the Southern Western Ghats, Kerala, India

Preserving suitable habitats and addressing potential threats is essential for the long-term survival of bat populations in this ecologically important region. We investigated the bat species diversity and species composition by using mist net and acoustic survey in the Munnar landscape of the Western Ghats region, Kerala, India. A total of 33 bat species from two suborders were identified. Microchiroptera was the dominant suborder, comprising 81.8% of the bat species, while Megachiroptera represented 18.2%. Notably, Salim Ali's fruit bat (Latidens salimalii), an endemic and endangered species, was documented during the survey. The study also identified other near-threatened species, data deficient and vulnerable species. The findings underscore the ecological significance of the Munnar landscape for bat conservation and provide valuable baseline data for future research and conservation initiatives.