**3. History and data on the knowledge of Algerian bats**

The first work done on bats in Algeria is represented by that of Dobson who received some bat specimens collected by Lataste [16]; they were individuals of eight species which are *Otonycteris hemprichii*, *Vesperugo* (Vesperus) *serotinus* sub-species *isabellinus*, *Vesperugo pipistrellus*, *Vesperugo kuhli*, *Vespertilio murinus*, *Vespertilio capaccinii*, *Miniopterus schreibersi* and *Rhinolophus euryale*.

In 1912, Weber undertook chiropterological exploration in different parts of the Algiers region and found individuals of *Rhinolophus euryale* and *Myotis murinus* (*M. punicus*) and in 1911 *Miniopterus schreibersii* in Birkhadem [46]. It was not until nearly 20 years later that Laurent cited a Saharan form of the genus *Plecotus*, a rare species of which only one individual was reported by Loche in 1867 in Blida [47]; he studied an individual collected in El Golea by Doctor Foley of the Pasteur Institute of Algiers and he came to the conclusion that there are two *Plecotus* species in the sub-Saharan regions of North Africa *Plecotus austriacus* and a new species *Plecotus auritus saharae*. He was followed by Heim de Balsac in 1936 who questioned the statement of Laurent concerning the genus *Plecotus* [47, 48] he stipulated that the Algerian species is none other than *Plecotus auritus christiei* of which there was another capture at Oumeche near of Biskra by Rotschild and Hartert [49]. In 1944, Laurent first banded bats in Algeria and North Africa in 1942 in a cave around Algiers [50].

and fertilization in spring. Parturition was also seen taking place earlier than in Europe for the

The Bat: A Benefactor Animal Poorly Understood in Algeria

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.75547

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The above observations show that bats found in the caves of northern Algeria remain there throughout the year and are not migratory toward Europe as presumed by Heim de Balsac [48]. In 1912 Weber examined and studied the hibernation of bats in Algeria and found specimens belonging to several species in the state of torpor in winter [46]. When the weather is favorable, bats are observed to be active during the winter in northern Algeria [56]; previously, there was no information concerning the winter activity of cave-dwelling bats from Algeria. The caves of Algeria contain more bats in summer than in winter. The same observation has also been made in other areas of the Mediterranean, for example in Dalmatia [57], Provence [58], Sardinia [59] and Corsica [60]. This distinguishes them from Central European caves, which are used primarily as hibernacula while breeding and maternity colonies are

The hibernation period in northern Algeria is shorter than in European countries. In March in the cave of Misserghin fresh droppings began to accumulate under the bat colony, proving that they had started foraging for food, bat movements inside and between the bats' winter roosts seem to occur especially in Algeria; this was indicated by changes in the composition, number and distribution of bats during consecutive visits to the caves of Algeria. These move-

In the book Mammals of Algeria in 1991, Kowalski and Rzebick Kowalska reported the existence of 26 bat species, confirming the data of Gaisler in 1983 who undertook a variety of work on bats in 1979 and in 1984, and Kowalski and his collaborators had to analyze and study

The bats reported for Algeria belong to the Palearctic region, whose boundaries were delineated by Corbet [63]. This region is described as beginning in the north with the Spitsbergen Islands; the Azores, Madeira and the Canary Islands are included, unlike the Cape Verde Islands which are excluded. In Africa, the western boundaries start at 21°30'N (Between Western Sahara and Mauretania), and the countries that are included are Algeria, Libya and Egypt and excluded are Niger, Chad and Sudan. The Hoggar Mountains are included in contrast to Tibesti. The entire Arabian Peninsula is included. The Asian boundary begins between

By working on five large areas resulting from a climatological division of the Algerian territory made by Ochando [64], In 1986 Gaisler and his collaborators stipulated that seven species are characteristic of northern Algeria [54], of which the first and second zones represent the Mediterranean zone, or the climate varies from sub-humid to semi-arid. The third and fourth zone or medulla zone corresponds to the zone with an arid climate, except for some mountainous regions where the climate is semi-arid and possibly the highlands and the Saharan Atlas. The fifth zone is the Sahara with its desert climate and the Saharan mountains.

ments between hibernacula have also been documented in Europe [61].

Pakistan and Iran and continues in Afghanistan to central China.

same species and they noted a tendency to form harems during the breeding season.

exceptionally held in summer.

cave-dwelling bats of Algeria [45, 62].

**4. Zoogeography of Algerian bats**

In 1976, Anciaux de Favaux established the first complete study of Algerian bats [51]. He cites the presence of 23 species belonging to 5 families, many of which are rare and 2 remain problematic. Javrujan (1980) investigated Algerian bats, as well as border areas with Tunisia and Morocco, found 20 species and 660 individuals. In 1984, Hanak and Gaisler reported for the first time the presence of *Nyctalus leisleri* as a new species for the African continent, from Yakourene region to Tizi Ouzou [52], and they captured an individual of *Myotis nattereri* reported for the second time for Algeria [52]. In 1983 Gaisler completed this list [53], he worked with his collaborators mainly in the northeastern part of the country with the town of Setif as the central point, and it was he who for the first time signaled the presence of *Myotis nattereri* for Algeria, as well as the reappearance after a century-long absence of *Pipistrellus pipistrellus* and *Myotis capaccinii* [54]. They also report the presence of *Hypsugosavii* in three regions of the country at altitudes ranging between 1050 and 2004 m; they gave very important details about its ecology and he studied the distribution of 10 species namely *Rhinolophus ferrumequinum*, *R. hipposideros*, *R. euryale*, *R. mehelyi*, *R. blasii*, *Myotis blythii*, *M. emarginatus*, *Pipistrellus kuhlii*, *Plecotus austriacus* and *Miniopterus schreibersii*. Other work was done by Gaisler et al. [54] and Kowalski et al. [45].

Kowalski et al. and Gaisler and Kowalski studied the dynamics of bat populations in the caves of northern Algeria between 1978 and 1983 and worked on the annual cycle of cavedwelling species in 26 localities of the country [54, 55], including the Ain Nouissy Cave near Mostaganem (35° 48'N, 0° 2'E), the Yebdar Cave located near Ain Fezza in the Tlemcen Mountains (34° 53'N, 1° 18'W), Cave of Mersa Agla in Honaine (35° 10'N, 1° 39'W), Sig (35° 32'N, 0° 12'W, the mountains of BeniChougrane, the hills of Mourdjadjo at 6 km S from the village of Misserghin near Oran (35° 38'N, 0° 43'W), At the seaside at Madagh (35° 40'N, 1° 0'W), the cave of Aokas (36°) 38'N, 5° 14′E), the cave of Tichy, the valley of Chabet lakhra (36° 39'N, 5° 17′E) there are several artificial galleries of 50–800 m of length carved in the rocks, cave at the foot of Mount Chelia in the Aurès (35° 19'N, 6° 40′E), Hot Cave near Tiddis (36 22'N, 6° 39′E), in the Saharan Atlas considered as the southern limit of the Mediterranean species, in the cave El Rhar in Ain Ouarka (32° 44'N, 0° 10'W) located in semi-desert and rocky, consisting of a single gallery about 800 m long [56], Brezina (33° 6'N, 1° 16′E) and several caves located between the desert. They noted that the hibernation period in Algeria is shorter than in Europe, but that the reproductive cycle was similar and copulation took place in autumn and fertilization in spring. Parturition was also seen taking place earlier than in Europe for the same species and they noted a tendency to form harems during the breeding season.

The above observations show that bats found in the caves of northern Algeria remain there throughout the year and are not migratory toward Europe as presumed by Heim de Balsac [48]. In 1912 Weber examined and studied the hibernation of bats in Algeria and found specimens belonging to several species in the state of torpor in winter [46]. When the weather is favorable, bats are observed to be active during the winter in northern Algeria [56]; previously, there was no information concerning the winter activity of cave-dwelling bats from Algeria. The caves of Algeria contain more bats in summer than in winter. The same observation has also been made in other areas of the Mediterranean, for example in Dalmatia [57], Provence [58], Sardinia [59] and Corsica [60]. This distinguishes them from Central European caves, which are used primarily as hibernacula while breeding and maternity colonies are exceptionally held in summer.

The hibernation period in northern Algeria is shorter than in European countries. In March in the cave of Misserghin fresh droppings began to accumulate under the bat colony, proving that they had started foraging for food, bat movements inside and between the bats' winter roosts seem to occur especially in Algeria; this was indicated by changes in the composition, number and distribution of bats during consecutive visits to the caves of Algeria. These movements between hibernacula have also been documented in Europe [61].

In the book Mammals of Algeria in 1991, Kowalski and Rzebick Kowalska reported the existence of 26 bat species, confirming the data of Gaisler in 1983 who undertook a variety of work on bats in 1979 and in 1984, and Kowalski and his collaborators had to analyze and study cave-dwelling bats of Algeria [45, 62].
