First survey of cave dwelling bats of the Tigray highlands, northern Ethiopia

Abstract Bats are among the most phylogenetically diverse and ecologically significant mammalian groups, comprising ca. 22 % of all mammal species. They provide ecosystem services, including insect pest control, pollination, and seed dispersal of agriculturally important plants. As bioindicators, their population status offers insight into ecosystem health, particularly in fragile environments such as cave systems. We investigated bat diversity and composition in sandstone and limestone caves in the Tigray Region, Ethiopia, based on surveys conducted from December 2016 to April 2017 and March to October 2020. Using morphological and genetic identification, from 15 sampling sites we recorded 151 individuals representing 10 species from five families. While four species, Nycteris macrotis 1, N. sp., Plecotus balensis , and Hipposideros megalotis , were restricted to either sandstone or limestone caves, Hipposideros tephrus , Rhinolophus blasii , and Nycteris thebaica occurred in both, suggesting broader ecological valence. Notably, P. balensis , the Ethiopian Highland endemic bat, was recorded in a cave for the first time, extending its known distribution northward. Given the extensive network of caves and rock-hewn churches in Tigray, a comprehensive inventory of the region’s bat fauna is essential for evidence-based conservation. With increasing anthropogenic pressure from tourism and habitat degradation, protecting key roosting sites is vital for sustaining bat populations.