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Species of bat
The Paraguana moustached bat (Pteronotus paraguanensis ) occurs only on the Paraguaná Peninsula of Venezuela.[1] The entire population uses three caves, one of which is subject to human vandalism .[1] Their total range is less than 400 km2 (150 sq mi).[1] In 2008, the caves where the bat is found were protected by the creation of the Cuevas de Paraguaná Wildlife Sanctuary–the first wildlife sanctuary in Venezuela.[2]
Taxonomy
There is uncertainty if this taxa represents a species , or if it is a subspecies of Parnell's mustached bat .[1] Based on morphology , the bats were elevated from a subspecies to a species in 2008.[3] The status of the bat as a full species was affirmed by genetic sequencing .[4]
Conservation
critically endangered.
[1] The 2016 assessment, however, downlisted them to
endangered .
[1] In 2013,
Bat Conservation International listed this species as one of the 35 species of its worldwide priority list of conservation.
[5] In 2015, Bat Conservation International began fundraising for
bat detectors to better survey the critical
habitat necessary for the species' survival.
[6] The species is especially threatened by intentional destruction by humans; in 1997, thousands of dead bats were found in one of the caves after locals set tires on fire at the cave entrance.
[3] Some Venezuelans mistakenly believe that all bats are
vampire bats , and should therefore be exterminated.
[3] To reduce vandalism and protect the bats, a gate was installed in 2003 at the entrance of one of the caves, with gaps large enough for bats to come and go, but too small for human passage.
[3] After the gate was installed, the number of bats using the cave "substantially increased".
[3]
References
^ . Retrieved 18 November 2021 .
^ "Cuevas de Paraguaná" . diversidadbiologica.minamb.gob.ve . Diversidad Biológica. Archived from the original on June 16, 2018. Retrieved May 6, 2017 .
^ a b c d e Eliécer E. Gutiérrez, Jesús Molinari; Morphometrics and Taxonomy of Bats of the Genus Pteronotus (Subgenus Phyllodia) in Venezuela. J Mammal 2008; 89 (2): 292-305.
.
^ "Annual Report 2013-2014" (PDF) . batcon.org . Bat Conservation International. August 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 7, 2017. Retrieved May 1, 2017 .
^ "The BCI Wish List" . batcon.org . Bat Conservation International. Winter 2015. Retrieved May 6, 2017 .