Pipistrellus kuhlii | UAE National Red List of Mammals: Marine and Terrestrial

Taxa
Pipistrellus kuhlii | (Kuhl, 1817)
Publication
UAE National Red List of Mammals: Marine and Terrestrial
Location
Countries in Assessment
United Arab Emirates
Country ISO code(s)
ARE
Does the assessment cover a marine EEZ area(s)?
Off
Scope (Assessment)
National
Taxon
Taxonomic Group
Vertebrates
Taxonomic Group Level 2
Mammals
Assessed taxon level
Species
Taxonomic Notes
Simmons (2005) considers sub-Saharan African and Canary Island populations to belong to a different species, P. hesperidus, but the taxonomic validity of that taxon, as well its relation with the African P. deserti needs further research. The species in Yemen requires taxonomic clarification (D. Kock pers. comm. 2005).Pipistrellus deserti is considered a junior synonym of P. kuhlii following Benda et al. (2014).
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
This is the most widespread and one of the most abundant species of bat in the UAE (Judas et al. 2018). There are records from many localities, including coastal areas and islands of all emirates. The species is widespread in Arabia and was described as 'abundant' by Harrison and Bates (1991). Globally, the species is widespread in Africa and Europe, the Arabian Peninsula, Middle East and the Caucasus to Kazakhstan, Pakistan, and India (Juste and Paunovic 2016).
Habitats and Ecology
Ecological system type
Terrestrial system
No
Freshwater system
No
Marine system
No
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
Roosts colonially. Observed packed together in cracks between coral blocks used to build houses in Sharjah and also in falaj tunnels at Al Ain (Harrison and Bates 1991), and may make use of caves and crevices in between rocks. It occurs in a wide range of desert habitats and mountain wadis.
Is there a map available in assessment?
Yes
Assessed status
Asessment status in full
Least concern
Assessment status abreviation
LC
Assessment rationale/justification
This species is assessed as Least Concern because it is widespread in the UAE and common, and there are no major threats. No regional adjustment is made to the Least Concern assessment.
About the assessment
Assessment year
2018
Assessors/contributors/reviewers listed
UAE National Red List Workshop
Affliation of assessor(s)/contributors/reviewers listed on assessment
Government
IGO
Assessor affiliation specific
Government|IGO
Criteria system
Criteria system specifics
IUCN v3.1
Criteria system used
IUCN
Criteria Citation
IUCN. 2012. IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria: Version 3.1, Second edition. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK. iv + 32pp pp. And IUCN. 2012. Guidelines for Application of IUCN Red List Criteria at Regional and National Levels: Version 4.0. Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK: IUCN. iii + 41pp.
URL (link) of redlist assessment or publication
https://www.moccae.gov.ae/assets/download/b352eff1/UNRL%20of%20Mammals%20-%20Report%202019.pdf.aspx?view=true
Endemism
Endemic to region
Not_assigned
Endemism Notes
Is an endemic?: Not_assigned
Conservation
Threats listed in assessment
Unknown. The increasing extent and intensity of urban lighting may have a negative impact on nocturnal flying invertebrates, the main prey base. Species in the mountains may be affected indirectly by falling water tables due to over-abstraction and reduced precipitation.
Conservation Measures

Conservation measures:
Conservation measures notes:
Required conservation measures:

Further information
History
The species was considered Data Deficient by Hornby (1996), however, we consider it likely that the species would also have qualified as Least Concern in 1996.
Scientific Name Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus
Pipistrellus kuhlii Animalia Chordata Mammalia Chiroptera Vespertilionidae Pipistrellus