Note sur les chiroptères de l’île de la Réunion (Océan Indien)

Abstract

Chiroptera are the only native mammals of Reunion, Mauritius and Rodrigues Islands (Mascarenes). Reunion had 5 spp. in 2 suborders and 4 families when the 1st settlers arrived (XVIIth century). The 2 fruit-bats (Pteropus niger, P. subniger) have disappeared. The vespertilionid species Scotophilus borbonicus also seems extinct. Two species survive: Tadarida acetabulosa (Molossidae) and Taphozous mauritianus (Emballonuridae). T. mauritianus seems to carry out annual migrations.