With the recent addition of Rhinolophus affinis, Cambodia’s bat list now grows to 50 species. In July’s issue of the Cambodian Journal of Natural History, Phouthone Kingsada and colleagues bring together all the bat species currently recognised in the peer-reviewed literature for Cambodia and report on the recent collection of R. affinis in northern Cambodia. They also collate the records of this species for mainland Southeast Asia (excluding Peninsular Malaysia) and provide a detailed distribution map.
With some 20 species added to Cambodia’s list since Kock’s 2000 checklist, its clear that the country is an exciting place for bat research! Moreover, in his presentation to the 2nd International Southeast Asian Bat Conference, Dr Neil Furey estimated that, with at least another 15 records awaiting publication, the true list is probably nearer 65 species.
Phouthone Kingsada, Bounsavane Douangboubpha, Ith Saveng, Neil Furey, Pipat Soisook, Sara Bumrungsri, Chutamas Satasook, Vu Dinh Thong, Gabor Csorba, David Harrison, Malcolm Pearch, Paul Bates & Nikky Thomas (2011). A checklist of bats from Cambodia, including the first record of the intermediate horseshoe bat Rhinolophus affinis (Chiroptera: Rhinolophidae), with additional information from Thailand and Vietnam. Cambodian Journal of Natural History 2011 (1): 49-59.
The July issue of the CJNH which contains the article can be obtained here.