First Records of Bats (Mammalia: Chiroptera) from the World’s Largest Cave in Vietnam

Located within the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, Central Vietnam, Son Doong Cave is world’s largest cave and has become one of most famous sites for caving tourists scientists worldwide. It contains highly diverse landscapes ecosystems with special value in many natural aspects including biodiversity. Bat species are usually regarded as key fascinating dwellers ecosystems. We recently conducted a bat survey May 2022 an initial understanding inhabiting this cave. Bats were captured using mist nets. Echolocation calls recorded analyzed PCTape system Batman Selena software, respectively. Results from confirmed that home at least six echolocating five genera four families: Hipposideridae (Aselliscus stoliczkanus, Hipposideros scutinares), Rhinolophidae (Rhinolophus thomasi), Molossidae (Mops plicatus) Vespertilionidae (Myotis pilosus Myotis cf. muricola). Of these species, H. scutinares M. listed globally “vulnerable” by IUCN Red List Threatened Species. Among Cave, each clearly distinguishable others terms morphological features, echolocation call structure frequencies.