Bats of Bangladesh—A Systematic Review of the Diversity and Distribution with Recommendations for Future Research

Abstract

Bangladesh is at the ecological transition between the Indo-Himalayan and Indo-Chinese subregions. The country also has one of the highest human population densities in the world and only 6% remaining natural habitat, putting much of its biodiversity at risk. With more than 1455 species worldwide, bats are an important, but threatened, component of global biodiversity and provide critical ecosystem services. Yet, there is no comprehensive work on species occurrence, diversity, or richness of bats of Bangladesh. Here, we collated data on the bats of Bangladesh and states in neighboring countries from the available literature, the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, and museum databases to assess the probability of occurrence of bat species in Bangladesh and created distribution maps for each species. We confirmed 31 species from 8 families, of which 22 were associated with voucher specimens and 9 recorded based on photographs, or human observation. A further 81 species were categorized as Highly Probable (38 species), Probable (33), and Possible (10) in Bangladesh based on the distribution in neighboring states and habitat preferences. The shortfall in confirmed versus potential species highlights the need for rigorous surveys to fully document and characterize the bat diversity of Bangladesh.

Unveiling the unknown: a butterfly checklist of the Adampur forest in Bangladesh

“…In the study area, there were 266 identified butterfly species, and out of these, 134 species (50.37%, EN = 26.69%, and VU = 23.68%) accounted for and fell into the threatened category (IUCN Bangladesh, 2015). The prevailing ecological factor responsible for this situation predominantly involves habitat deterioration, primarily initiated by the alteration of natural land covers into agricultural lands, which includes timber plantations, human settlements, and the expansion of infrastructure (buildings, roads, and bridges) in the area (Hasan and Kingston, 2022). A group of 48 species constituted 18.05% of the total 266 species that are Not Evaluated species (IUCN Bangladesh, 2015).…”

“…These seven geographical regions represent three distinct forest types (mangrove forest, mixed evergreen forest, and moist deciduous forest). Overpopulation and subsequent transformations of natural landscapes into human settlements, agricultural lands, and monoculture plantations have reduced the country's natural land cover to merely about 6%, thereby compromising a significant portion of its biodiversity (Hasan and Kingston, 2022). However, within the remaining natural landscapes of the country, the northeastern part of Bangladesh showcases a rich 86 butterfly diversity, providing a suitable home for species that are either threatened or abundant (Chowdhury et al, 2021).…”

“…However, within the remaining natural landscapes of the country, the northeastern part of Bangladesh showcases a rich 86 butterfly diversity, providing a suitable home for species that are either threatened or abundant (Chowdhury et al, 2021). The majority of protected areas in this part of Bangladesh feature mixed evergreen forests, particularly in the Moulvibazar District of the Sylhet Division (Hasan and Kingston, 2022). The Adampur Forest lies within the northeastern region of Bangladesh, located under the Sylhet division (Fig.…”