TITLE:
Diversity and Distribution of Bats in Several Prefectures of Forest Guinea in 2025
AUTHORS:
Bonaventure Kolie, Mariama Bah, Mohamed Diallo, Alpha Oumar Sily Diallo, Boubacar Sidy Sily Bah, Youssouf Conde, Amara Cisse, Noumouny Sacko, Faya Raphaël Tolno, Sanaba Boumbaly, Aly Nene Mansare
KEYWORDS:
Bats, Species Diversity, Habitat, Caves, Insectivores, Forested Guinea
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Animal Sciences,
Vol.16 No.4,
September
17,
2026
ABSTRACT: Bats are a group of mammals that play a major ecological role in tropical ecosystems, particularly in regulating insect populations, pollination, and seed dispersal. This study aimed to characterize the diversity, spatial distribution, and ecological preferences of bats in forested Guinea. Captures were conducted at several sites across the prefectures of Lola, Macenta, N’Zérékoré, and Guéckédou in 2025 using Japanese nets set up in various habitat types. Captured individuals were identified based on morphological and taxonomic criteria. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and a χ2 test to assess the association between species and habitats. A total of 94 individuals belonging to 7 species and 5 families were recorded. The community was dominated by Miniopterus spp. (35.1%), followed by Hipposideros caffer (19.1%) and Epomops buettikoferi (13.8%). Species distribution varied by prefecture and habitat. Caves and caverns were the most common habitat (50.0% of captures), particularly hosting the cave-dwelling species Miniopterus spp. and Rhinolophus ziama. Statistical analysis revealed a highly significant association between species and habitat types (χ2 = 169.02; ddl = 18; p