**3. Bat diversity in Jordan**

The bat fauna of Jordan consists of 26 bat species belonging to nine families (Emballonuridae, Hipposideridae, Pteropodidae, Miniopteridae, Molossidae, Nycteridae, Rhinolophidae, Rhinopomatidae, and Vespertilionidae). **Figure 3** shows some representative species.

#### **3.1 Family Pteropodidae**

This family of fruit bats includes a single species, the Egyptian fruit bat, *Rousettus aegyptiacus*. This species is distributed along the eastern mountains and the Jordan Valley, extending from the extreme north near Lake Tiberius reaching as far as Aqaba to the south. The Egyptian fruit bat does not penetrate into the eastern desert [18, 20].

#### **3.2 Family Rhinopomatidae**

This family is represented by two species, the greater rat-tailed bat, *Rhinopoma microphyllum* and the lesser mouse-tailed bat, *Rhinopoma cystops*. The later species is widely distributed in localized Mediterranean areas as well as around the Dead Sea basin. *Rhinopoma microphyllum* was reported from fewer localities, mostly in the Mediterranean mountains [18, 20].

#### **3.3 Family Rhinolophidae**

This family includes six species inhabiting a variety of habitats. Geoffroy's horseshoe bat, *Rhinolophus clivosus*, and Mehely's horseshoe bat, *Rhinolophus mehelyi* were recorded from arid regions, while the Mediterranean horseshoe bat, *Rhinolophus euryale*, and the larger horseshoe bat, *Rhinolophus ferrumequinum*, are strictly confined to forested areas in northern Jordan. The lesser horseshoe bat, *Rhinolophus hipposideros* and Blasius's horseshoe bat, *Rhinolophus blasii* were recorded from both Mediterranean areas in the north and arid regions in southern Jordan [18, 20].

#### **3.4 Family Emballonuridae**

The tomb bat, *Taphozous perforatus* and the naked bellied tomb bat, *Taphozous nudiventris*, were recorded from Jordan. Both species were reported from the middle *Diversity and Conservation of Bats in Jordan DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.100407*

#### **Figure 3.**

*(A) The lesser mouse-tailed bat, Rhinopoma cystops. (B) Geoffroy's horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus clivosus. (C) The desert long-eared bat, Otonycteris hemprichii. (D) Christie's big-eared bat, Plecotus christii. (E) The notch-eared bat, Myotis emarginatus. (F) The trident leaf-nosed bat, Asellia tridens.*

part of the Rift Valley of Jordan, surrounding the Dead Sea area. They are found close to open waterbodies such as rivers and creeks [18, 20].

#### **3.5 Family Hipposideridae**

The trident leaf-nosed bat, *Asellia tridens*, is an inhabitant of extreme arid areas. It was recorded from several localities in Wadi Araba [18, 20].

#### **3.6 Family Miniopteridae**

*Miniopterus pallidus* is confined to the Mediterranean regions of Jordan forming a large mixed colonies with other bats [18, 20].

#### **3.7 Family Molossidae**

The European free-tailed bat, *Tadarida teniotis*, is widely distributed in Jordan. Besides its presence in mild Mediterranean areas, this species can live in extremely dry habitats in the eastern desert of Jordan [18, 20].

#### **3.8 Family Nycteridae**

The Egyptian slit-faced bat, *Nycteris thebaica*, is known from the southern parts of Jordan inhabiting barren mountainous areas overlooking the Dead Sea [18, 20].

#### **3.9 Family Vespertilionidae**

This is the most diverse family in Jordan and is presented by seven genera (*Barbastella*, *Eptesicus*, *Hypsugo*, *Myotis*, *Otonycteris*, *Pipistrellus*, and *Plecotus*) with 11 species [18, 20].

The Asian barbastelle, *Barbastella leucomelas*, was recorded from the southern regions of Jordan with the semi-arid Mediterranean and extreme desert habitats. It is considered as an endemic species to arid regions around the most northern parts of the Red Sea. Botta's serotine bat, *Eptesicus bottae*, is found in a wide range of semi-arid habitats including the semi-arid Mediterranean regions, as well as lowlands and rocky mountains. This is a crevice-dwelling species, inhabiting buildings, ruins, and natural rock crevices [18, 20].

Christie's big-eared bat, *Plecotus christii*, is a rather common species in Jordan, with distribution limited to the arid regions to the southwestern parts of the country. The desert long-eared bat, *Otonycteris hemprichii* was reported from the northeastern deserts and the arid southwestern parts of Jordan [18, 20].

Kuhl's pipistrelle, *Pipistrellus kuhlii*, is the most common species in Jordan inhabiting all biogeographical regions including the Mediterranean and semi-desert zones. It is very common in urban areas as well. The common pipistrelle, *Pipistrellus pipistrellus*, is distributed along with the western parts of the country in forested areas as well as the arid region. The desert pipistrelle, *Hypsugo ariel*, is known to occur in the arid regions around the Dead Sea basin and the Wadi Ramm desert [18, 20].

The lesser mouse-eared bat, *Myotis blythii*, is restricted to the Mediterranean region of northern Jordan. It forages in scrub and grassland habitats, including farmland and gardens. Maternity colonies are usually found in underground habitats such as caves and old mines. The long-fingered bat, *Myotis capaccinii*, was reported from one locality, Tabqat Fahl, adjacent to the Jordan Valley. The notch-eared bat, *Myotis emarginatus*, was recorded from a limited area of the Ajlun Mountains within the Mediterranean biogeographical region. Natterer's Bat, *Myotis nattereri*, was found in the northwestern forests and from mountainous habitats of the Dhana-Shawbak region in the Southern highlands [18, 20].

### **4. Bat echolocation calls**

Bat echolocation calls for 11 bat species from Jordan are documented. **Figure 4** and **Table 1** show recorded calls and durations and frequency variables using Song meter from different localities.

Species of the genus *Rhinolophus* are characterized by calls with a long and strictly constant-frequency component (**Figure 4**). The four species studied are very distinct; whereas *Rh. ferrumequinum* has the least frequency variables (75.7 ± 4 for SF, and 77.9 ± 6.5 for EF) as compared to *Rh. clivosus*, *Rh. euryale*, and *Rh. hipposideros*

#### **Figure 4.**

*Representative echolocation calls for 11 species from Jordan.*


#### **Table 1.**

*Echolocation calls for 11 species recorded from Jordan.*



#### **Table 2.**

*Important bat caves with recorded species.*

(**Table 1**). *Rhinopoma cystops* exhibits two harmonics; the first around 33 kHz and the second at 32–35 kHz. The end frequency for *E. bottae* is typically between 34 and 38 kHz and 50–53 kHz; *P. kuhlii* 38–41 kHz; and *T. teniotis* 14–16 kHz [21, 22].

All of the calls are within the range of previous studies in the Middle East [21–23]. **Table 2** lists frequencies for bats recorded from the Negev desert on the opposite side of Jordan. It clearly shows that calls reported in our study are similar for most species.
