State of Knowledge of African bats: systematics and conservation

Ara Monadjem

Correct species identification is important for many disciplines including conservation of biodiversity. However, cryptic species make identifications difficult, a problem familiar to bat biologists, particularly those working in the tropics. I start by noting the importance of systematic and taxonomic studies illustrated by my work in Mt Nimba, West Africa. Over the course of several surveys, I increased the number of known bats from 32 to 59 species, including at least four new species to science. Furthermore, the endemic Hipposideros lamottei had been misdiagnosed in the original species description leading to much confusion in the literature over the past 30 years. I end the talk, by discussing how this advance in knowledge has had important implication for the conservation of African bats by highlighting a new hotspot of bat diversity on the continent.