Neotropical_Noctilionoidea.zip

This file provides updated distribution maps that comprise the extent of occurrence of the neotropical bat species in the superfamily Noctilionoidea (Mammalia: Chiroptera) after a thorough research of new records published between January 2008 and March 2018. The core of the superfamily (246 species distributed in 5 families out of 250 species) occurs in the Neotropics and shows ecological diversity unparalleled among mammals. This clade also shows the only evolutionary shift towards higher speciation rates within the order Chiroptera. Updating the range maps for these bats resulted in the modification of maps of 94 species, and the creation of new maps for 37 species missing from the IUCN database. From the 94 modified maps, 55 species increased its latitudinal range and 38 increased its longitudinal range. These modifications did not change the overall extent of occurrence of the clade. Altogether, modified and new maps involve 53% of the species in this clade.