Distribution of bat roosts in the interior of Arabuko-Sokoke Forest and adjacent farmlands in Gede, Kilifi County, Kenya

Simon Musila; Robert Syingi; Aziza Zuhura; Nathan Gichuki

doi:10.15468/t4hsxy

Distribution of bat roosts in the interior of Arabuko-Sokoke Forest and adjacent farmlands in Gede, Kilifi County, Kenya

Citation

Musila S, Syingi R, Zuhura A, Gichuki N (2019). Distribution of bat roosts in the interior of Arabuko-Sokoke Forest and adjacent farmlands in Gede, Kilifi County, Kenya. National Museums of Kenya. Occurrence dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/t4hsxy accessed via GBIF.org on 2019-11-23.

Description

We present data on the distribution of different bat roosts in the interior of Arabuko-Sokoke Forest (ASF) and human-modified habitats (farmlands) on the eastern part of this coastal forest in Gede, Kilifi County Kenya. A total of 12 roosts were identified, which included six limestone caves, two tree roosts and four man-made structures (mainly buildings). A total of 13 bat species were recorded to roost in these roosts, with two limestone caves hosting at least more than five species. Only one cave found inside ASF was legally protected, the others were not legally protected because they occurred outside ASF in privately owned individual farms, and were highly prone to demolition and destruction. Two roosts occurred in the middle of rapidly expanding urban areas and were most likely be destroyed in the near future. This information can be used for monitoring the population of bats in these roosts and the conservation status of the bat roosts.

Taxonomic Coverages

All bat individuals captured were identified to species level.

Chiroptera
common name: Bats rank: order

Geographic Coverages

Arabuko-Sokoke Forest (ASF) and adjacent farmlands around Gede (especially from Mtsangoni, Mida, Arabuko, Gede, Watamu and Msabaha villages), Kenya

Bibliographic Citations

Contacts

Simon Musila
originator
position: Head, Mammalogy Section
National Museums of Kenya
Museum Hill Road
Nairobi
P.O.Box 40658 -00100
Nairobi
KE
email: surnbirds@gmail.com
homepage: http://www.museums.or.ke

Robert Syingi
originator
position: Research Intern
National Museums of Kenya
Museum Hill Road
Nairobi
P.O.Box 40658 -00100
Nairobi
KE
email: robertsyingi@gmail.com
homepage: http://www.museums.or.ke

Aziza Zuhura
originator
position: Laboratory technician
National Museums of Kenya
Museum Hill Road
Nairobi
P.O.Box 40658 -00100
Nairobi
KE
email: azizazuhura@yahoo.com
homepage: http://www.museums.or.ke

Nathan Gichuki
originator
position: Professor, School of Biological Sciences
University of Nairobi
Chiromo
Nairobi
P.O.Box 30197 - 00100
Nairobi
KE
email: ngichuki@uonbi.ac.ke

Simon Musila
metadata author
position: Head, Mammalogy Section
National Museums of Kenya
Museum Hill Road
Nairobi
P.O.Box 40658 -00100
Nairobi
KE
email: surnbirds@gmail.com
homepage: http://www.museums.or.ke

Esther Mwangi
processor
position: Research Scientist
National Museums of Kenya
Museum Hill Road
Nairobi
P.O. Box 40658 - 00100
Nairobi
KE
email: ewmwangi@museums.or.ke
homepage: http://www.museums.or.ke

Lawrence Monda
publisher
position: ICT Manager
National Museums of Kenya
Museum Hill Road
Nairobi
P.O.Box 40658 - 00100
Nairobi
KE
email: lmonda@museums.or.ke
homepage: http://www.museums.or.ke

Simon Musila
administrative point of contact
position: Head, Mammalogy Section
National Museums of Kenya
Museum Hill Road
Nairobi
P.O.Box 40658 -00100
Nairobi
KE
email: surnbirds@gmail.com
homepage: http://www.museums.or.ke