Results of a recent bat survey in Upper Myanmar including new records from the Kachin forests

Abstract

Recent studies have shown the importance of Myanmar for the conservation of bat diversity. In March–April, 2003, twenty-five localities in Kachin and Shan States and Mandalay and Sagaing Divisions in Upper Myanmar were surveyed using mist nets and harp traps. Of the twenty-three bat species collected, thirteen were recorded from two localities in Kachin State, one of which has already been described as a new species, Kerivoula kachinensis, and a further two (a Rhinolophus and a Kerivoula) are putative new species. Murina tubinararis, Murina cyclotis and Rhinolophus shameli were recorded for the first time in Myanmar for over 65 years, while our records of Rhinolophus stheno and Rhinolophus malayanus are the most northern localities for these species in Myanmar. Species are discussed individually with external, cranial and dental measurements summarised. We also present descriptive statistics for echolocation calls recorded from five taxa. This represents the first bat survey of northern Myanmar forests for nearly 70 years. Kachin is already known to support high biodiversity and these recent records confirm the importance of its forests for the conservation of Myanmar’s mammal fauna.