# List of bats of Madagascar

Bats are one of the major components of the indigenous mammalian fauna of Madagascar, in addition to tenrecs, lemurs, euplerid carnivores, and nesomyine rodents. Forty-six bat species have so far been recorded on Madagascar, of which thirty-six occur only on the island. However, new species continue to be discovered, causing the number of species to rise rapidly; for example, Nick Garbutt's Mammals of Madagascar (2007) listed only 36 species.25 in Dorst (1948) Most Malagasy bats have their origins in nearby mainland Africa, but on at least three occasions—Pipistrellus raceyi, Pteropus rufus, and the species pair Emballonura atrata–E. tiavato—bats have colonized Madagascar from Asia.

## Taxonomic classification

The following bat genera and families include species found on Madagascar (all species counts are for Madagascar only):
* Family Pteropodidae (3 endemic species)
** Genus Eidolon (1 endemic species)
** Genus Pteropus (1 endemic species)
** Genus Rousettus (1 endemic species)
* Family Hipposideridae (6 endemic species)
** Genus Hipposideros (1 extinct endemic species)
** Genus Macronycteris (2 endemic species)
** Genus Paratriaenops (2 endemic species)
** Genus Triaenops (2 endemic species, one of which is extinct)
* Family Emballonuridae (2 endemic, 2 non-endemic species)
** Genus Coleura (1 non-endemic species)
** Genus Emballonura (2 endemic species)
** Genus Taphozous (1 non-endemic species)
* Family Nycteridae (1 endemic species)
** Genus Nycteris (1 endemic species)
* Family Myzopodidae (2 endemic species)
** Genus Myzopoda (2 endemic species)
* Family Molossidae (5 endemic, 3 non-endemic species)
** Genus Chaerephon (2 endemic, 1 non-endemic species)
** Genus Mops (1 endemic, 1 non-endemic species)
** Genus Mormopterus (1 endemic species)
** Genus Otomops (1 endemic species)
** Genus Tadarida (1 non-endemic species)
* Family Miniopteridae (9 endemic, 2 non-endemic species)
** Genus Miniopterus (9 endemic, 2 non-endemic species)
* Family Vespertilionidae (8 endemic, 4 non-endemic species)
** Genus Hypsugo (1 non-endemic species)
** Genus Myotis (1 endemic species)
** Genus Neoromicia (3 endemic species)
** Genus Pipistrellus (1 endemic, 1 non-endemic species)
** Genus Scotophilus (3 endemic, 1 non-endemic species)

## Key

| Scientific name | Scientific name of the species |
| Classified | Year when the species was formally described and classified, as well as the binomial authority of the species |
| Distribution | Geographic distribution of the species. Abbreviations used are S, south; N, north; E, east; W, west; C, central; SW, southwest; etcetera. |
| Forearm | Range in forearm length of adult members of the species, in metric and English units |
| Conservation status | Conservation status of the species, per IUCN as of 2008, except as indicated. "Not evaluated" is used to indicate that no IUCN status assessment is available. |

## Family Pteropodidae

Pteropodidae are a diverse family, with 186 species recognized in 2005, which occurs across the tropical regions of the Old World. They include the largest bats, but also some smaller species, and are mostly diurnal and frugivorous. Three species are known from Madagascar; each is classified in its own genus and is most closely related to species from outside Madagascar.
| Scientific name | Classified | Distribution | Forearm | Conservation status |
| Eidolon dupreanum | 1866, Pollen | Madagascar only | 115 to 130 mm (4.5 to 5.1 in) | Vulnerable |
| Pteropus rufus | 1803, E. Geoffroy | Madagascar only | 155 to 175 mm (6.1 to 6.9 in) | Vulnerable |
| Rousettus madagascariensis | 1928, G. Grandidier | Madagascar only; absent in SW | 65 to 75 mm (2.6 to 3.0 in) | Near threatened |

## Family Hipposideridae

Hipposideridae are a moderately diverse family—81 species were listed in 2005—and occur across the Old World tropics. Insectivorous, cave-roosting, and characterized by an elaborate noseleaf, they have often been united with the horseshoe bats (Rhinolophus; absent from Madagascar) into a single family Rhinolophidae, but are currently classified separately. Six species, all endemic, are known from Madagascar, of which four are extant. Macronycteris commersoni is the largest non-pteropodid bat of Madagascar and the extinct Hipposideros besaoka was even larger. The other species belong to the closely related genera Triaenops and Paratriaenops; the latter was split from Triaenops in 2009 and is restricted to Madagascar and the western Seychelles.
| Scientific name | Classified | Distribution | Forearm | Conservation status |
| Hipposideros besaoka | 2007, Samonds | Anjohibe, NW Madagascar only | – | Extinct |
| Macronycteris commersoni | 1813, E. Geoffroy | Madagascar only | 83 to 97 mm (3.3 to 3.8 in) | Near threatened |
| Macronycteris cryptovalorona | 2016, Goodman et al. | Madagascar only | 80 to 81 mm (3.1 to 3.2 in) | Not evaluated |
| Paratriaenops auritus | 1912, G. Grandidier | N and NW Madagascar only | 44 to 51 mm (1.7 to 2.0 in) | Vulnerable |
| Paratriaenops furcula | 1906, Trouessart | W and SW Madagascar only | 42 to 49 mm (1.7 to 1.9 in) | Least concern |
| Triaenops goodmani | 2007, Samonds | Anjohibe, NW Madagascar only | – | Extinct |
| Triaenops menamena | 2009, Goodman and Ranivo | N, W, and S Madagascar only | 46 to 56 mm (1.8 to 2.2 in) | Least concern |

## Family Emballonuridae

With 51 species (2005), Emballonuridae are a moderately diverse family. Found in tropical and subtropical regions across the world, they are characterized by a tail that extends beyond the uropatagium (tail membrane), but may be retracted into a sheath. Four species are known from Madagascar, of which two are endemic and two others are shared with mainland Africa.
| Scientific name | Classified | Distribution | Forearm | Conservation status |
| Coleura afra | 1852, Peters | Ankarana, N Madagascar; Sub-Saharan Africa; Yemen | 45 to 55 mm (1.8 to 2.2 in) | Least concern |
| Emballonura atrata | 1836, Eydoux and Gervais | E Madagascar only | c. 37 to 40 mm (1.5 to 1.6 in) | Least concern |
| Emballonura tiavato | 2006, Goodman et al. | N and W Madagascar only | 35 to 41 mm (1.4 to 1.6 in) | Least concern |
| Taphozous mauritianus | 1818, E. Geoffroy | Madagascar and other W Indian Ocean islands; Sub-Saharan Africa | 58 to 64 mm (2.3 to 2.5 in) | Least concern |

## Family Nycteridae

Nycteridae is a small family of 16 species (2005) in a single genus found in Africa and east to the Sunda Islands. They are characterized by a groove on their face and are insectivorous. A single, poorly known species has been recorded from Madagascar.
| Scientific name | Classified | Distribution | Forearm | Conservation status | References |
| Nycteris madagascariensis | 1937, G. Grandidier | N Madagascar only | 50 to 52 mm (about 2.0 in) | Data deficient | |

## Family Myzopodidae

This family, characterized by suction disks on the hand and feet, is unique to Madagascar. (It does, however, have a fossil record in Africa extending from the late Eocene to the Pleistocene.) A single species has historically been recognized, but eastern and western populations were classified as separate species in 2007.
| Scientific name | Classified | Distribution | Forearm | Conservation status | References |
| Myzopoda aurita | 1878, Milne-Edwards and Grandidier | E Madagascar only | 46 to 49 mm (1.8 to 1.9 in) | Least concern | |
| Myzopoda schliemanni | 2007, Goodman et al. | W Madagascar only | 45 to 49 mm (1.8 to 1.9 in) | Least concern | |

## Family Molossidae

This diverse family of 100 species (2005) occurs across the world in tropical regions. The tail conspicuously projects from the uropatagium and the wings are long. Eight species are known from Madagascar, four of which are endemic.
| Scientific name | Classified | Distribution | Forearm | Conservation status |
| Chaerephon atsinanana | 2010, Goodman et al. | E Madagascar | 37 to 42 mm (1.5 to 1.7 in) | |
| Chaerephon jobimena | 2004, Goodman and Cardiff | Madagascar only | 45 to 48 mm (1.8 to 1.9 in) | Least concern |
| Chaerephon leucogaster | 1870, A. Grandidier | W Madagascar; Sub-Saharan Africa; Mayotte | 33 to 38 mm (1.3 to 1.5 in) | Not evaluated |
| Mops leucostigma | 1918, G.M. Allen | Madagascar only | 42 to 45 mm (1.7 to 1.8 in) | Least concern |
| Mops midas | 1843, Sundevall | Madagascar; Sub-Saharan Africa; Saudi Arabia | 62 to 63 mm (2.4 to 2.5 in) | Least concern |
| Mormopterus jugularis | 1865, Peters | Madagascar only | 37 to 40 mm (1.5 to 1.6 in) | Least concern |
| Otomops madagascariensis | 1953, Dorst | Madagascar only | 59 to 65 mm (2.3 to 2.6 in) | Least concern |
| Tadarida fulminans | 1903, Thomas | Madagascar; Sub-Saharan Africa north to Kenya | 57 to 60 mm (2.2 to 2.4 in) | Least concern |

## Family Miniopteridae

This family contains a single genus, Miniopterus, with 19 species recognized in 2005, which was classified in Vespertilionidae until recently. Insectivorous and characterized by long fingers, the species are all quite similar, leading to a confused classification. On Madagascar, four species were recognized as recently as 2007, but systematic research has led the number to increase to eleven, of which nine are restricted to Madagascar and two shared with the Comoros.
| Scientific name | Classified | Distribution | Forearm | Conservation status |
| Miniopterus aelleni | 2009, Goodman et al. | N and W Madagascar; Anjouan, Comoros | 35 to 41 mm (1.4 to 1.6 in) | Not evaluated |
| Miniopterus brachytragos | 2009, Goodman et al. | N and W Madagascar only | 35 to 38 mm (1.4 to 1.5 in) | Not evaluated |
| Miniopterus egeri | 2011, Goodman et al. | E Madagascar only | 37 to 40 mm (1.5 to 1.6 in) | Not evaluated |
| Miniopterus gleni | 1995, Peterson et al. | Madagascar only, except S | 47 to 50 mm (1.9 to 2.0 in) | Least concern |
| Miniopterus griffithsi | 2009, Goodman et al. | S Madagascar only | 48 to 50 mm (1.9 to 2.0 in) | Not evaluated |
| Miniopterus griveaudi | 1959, Harrison | N and W Madagascar; Comoros | 35 to 38 mm (1.4 to 1.5 in) | Data deficient |
| Miniopterus mahafaliensis | 2009, Goodman et al. | S Madagascar only | 35 to 40 mm (1.4 to 1.6 in) | Not evaluated |
| Miniopterus majori | 1906, Thomas | Madagascar only | 43 to 47 mm (1.7 to 1.9 in) | Least concern |
| Miniopterus manavi | 1906, Thomas | Central Highlands, Madagascar only | 38 to 39 mm (1.5 to 1.5 in) | Least concern |
| Miniopterus petersoni | 2008, Goodman et al. | SE Madagascar only | 38 to 43 mm (1.5 to 1.7 in) | Data deficient |
| Miniopterus sororculus | 2007, Goodman et al. | Central Highlands, Madagascar only | 42 to 45 mm (1.7 to 1.8 in) | Least concern |

## Family Vespertilionidae

With 407 species (2005; including Miniopterus, which is now classified in its own family), Vespertilionidae is the largest bat family. Characterized by a tail contained in the uropatagium, they occur around the world in many habitats and are insectivorous. Madagascar hosts an endemic species of the extremely widespread genus Myotis, four species (three endemic) of the house bat Scotophilus, and at least six (four endemic) of small vespertilionids ("pipistrelles") in the genera Hypsugo, Eptesicus, Neoromicia, and Pipistrellus. The classification of the "pipistrelles" is confused, leading to many changing identifications. In addition to the six "pipistrelles" listed here, the African Neoromicia nanus has also been recorded from Madagascar, but the identification of the Madagascar records needs to be confirmed.
| Scientific name | Classified | Distribution | Forearm | Conservation status |
| Hypsugo anchietae | 1900, Seabra | SW Madagascar; southern Africa | 28 to 31 mm (1.1 to 1.2 in) | Least concern |
| Myotis goudoti | 1834, A. Smith | Madagascar only | 32 to 41 mm (1.3 to 1.6 in) | Least concern |
| Neoromicia malagasyensis | 1995, Peterson et al. | Isalo, SC Madagascar only | 30 to 32 mm (1.2 to 1.3 in) | Endangered |
| Neoromicia matroka | 1905, Thomas and Schwann | E Madagascar only | 31 to 33 mm (1.2 to 1.3 in) | Least concern |
| Neoromicia robertsi | 2012, Goodman et al. | E Madagascar only | 34 to 38 mm (1.3 to 1.5 in) | Not evaluated |
| Pipistrellus hesperidus | 1840, Temminck | W Madagascar; Sub-Saharan Africa | 29 to 31 mm (1.1 to 1.2 in) | Least concern |
| Pipistrellus raceyi | 2006, Bates et al. | W and E Madagascar only | 28 to 31 mm (1.1 to 1.2 in) | Least concern |
| Scotophilus cf. borbonicus | 1803, E. Geoffroy | Sarodrano, SW Madagascar; Réunion | 51 to 52 mm (about 2.0 in) | Data deficient |
| Scotophilus marovaza | 2006, Goodman et al. | W Madagascar only | 41 to 45 mm (1.6 to 1.8 in) | Least concern |
| Scotophilus robustus | 1881, Milne-Edwards | Madagascar only | 62 to 65 mm (2.4 to 2.6 in) | Least concern |
| Scotophilus tandrefana | 2005, Goodman et al. | W Madagascar only | 44 to 47 mm (1.7 to 1.9 in) | Data deficient |