VDM Verlag THE BATS OF PAKISTAN: The Least Known Creatures

This review book comprising of twelve chapters provides information on the taxonomy, biology and ecology of all the bat species of Pakistan. The first chapter is about the geography and describes different types of habitats available to bats in the country. The second chapter describes the diversity of bat species compares it with other bio- geographic regions of the world. It also encompasses the possible threats to bats in Pakistan. The various types of echolocation calls emitted by the bats are also described at the end of this chapter. An illustrated identification key of bats is given in the third chapter. From fourth chapter onward up to the elevanth, all the 52 bat species of Pakistan are discussed individually with an emphasis on their their taxonomy, distribution, food, morphology, reproduction and echolocation calls. In addition, this book has distribution maps for all the bat species and 78 colored plates including the sonagrams of some bats. The book aims to help future bat biologist of the country. It will also be of interest to bat biologist worldwide as bats of Pakistan belong to three zoogeographic regions of the world. About the Author I became interested in bats in 2004 when I studied the CAMP workshop report (2003) of South Asia and failed to find the name of any of my country men in that list. With help of sally Walker, I met Dr. Paul A. Racey in 2006 at Nepal. It was only due to his mentoring that I was able to win the first bat project in Pakistan.