Abstract:
Accurate knowledge of species distributions is foundational for efective conservation eforts. Bats are a
diverse group of mammals, with important roles in ecosystem functioning. However, our understanding
of bats and their ecological importance is hindered by poorly defned ranges, mostly as a result of underrecording. This issue is exacerbated in Africa by the ongoing rapid discovery of new species, both de novo
and splits of existing species, and by inaccessibility to museum specimens that are mostly hosted
outside of the continent. Here we present the African bat database – a curated set of 17,285 unique
locality records of all 266 species of bats from sub-Saharan Africa, vouched for by specimens and/
or genetic sequencing, and aligned with current taxonomy. Based on these records, we also present
Maxent-based distribution models and calculate the IUCN Red List metrics for Extent of Occurrence
and Area of Occupancy. This database and online visualization tool provide an important open-source
resource and is expected to signifcantly advance studies in ecology, and aid in bat conservation.
