Identification Key to the Species of Bats of Honduras

Abstract

The diversity of Honduras bats, although very rich and varied, received relatively little attention until recently. The economic development and new knowledge needs, along with a new generation of field biologists, are guiding the research of bats in the country. Due to these facts, a field key for Honduras bats was elaborated. The document contains: a key to separate and identify the eight families of bats present in Honduras, a key to separate and identify the eight subfamilies of Phyllostomidae, seven individual keys to separate the species within each family and eight individual keys to separate the species within each Phyllostomidae subfamily. The key includes 114 species of bats, 110 registered for Honduras plus four additional expected (without official registration) for the country. The key is based on general and specific documents generated for the identification of bats from other countries in the region. At the same time, current literature on this topic has been included to incorporate recent changes in species taxonomy and higher taxa classification.

Ceiba, 2016. Volumen 54(2):93-117