Relatively little is known about the bats of the Galapagos Islands, expect that the Lasiurus blossevillii brachyotis (a subspecies of the red bat), the Lasiurus cinereus (hoary bat) and the Aeorestes villosissimus (gray bat) can be found on the islands of Santa Cruz, San Cristobal, Isabela and Floreana.
By attaching radio transmitters to the bats and tracking the nocturnal sounds they make, researchers hope to learn more about the behavior and movements of these mysterious and often misunderstood creatures.
So far, their findings have revealed that they are most active around 11pm and that they are found in a variety of habitats, including those with introduced vegetation and near bodies of water, likely due to greater availability of insects. Their findings also indicate a significant gender imbalance, prompting further investigation into population dynamics.
Future research plans include genetic analysis to understand the bats’ genetic diversity and movement patterns of the bats across the islands.
The role of bats in the ecosystem: Bats play an important role in plant pollination and seed dispersal.
Where to see them?
At Galapagos Safari Camp we occasionally see bats at dusk, particularly from our viewing platform. However, identifying which species they are has always been difficult given the low levels of light, their speed, and the fact that we’ve never seen them roosting at camp.
