More than 100 species of bats live in Guatemala, making up nearly a quarter of the country's mammal population. Bats play key roles in pollination, seed dispersal, and insect control. The Phyllostomidae family is the most common group of bats in Guatemala and helps pollinate around 360 plant species.
The Department of Biology and the Biological Collections at Universidad del Valle de Guatemala (UVG) recently organized an event called “Noche Murcielaguera” to encourage students to study these mammals and learn more about the university’s biology program. The event took place during Halloween celebrations and aimed to teach techniques for capturing and observing bats while fostering interaction among current and prospective biology students.
Fieldwork was led by M. Sc. Gerardo Estrada and M. Sc. Luis Ríos, faculty members from the Department of Biology. They guided participants on how to use mist nets, ethically handle animals, and identify bat species. Ten individual bats from three different species were captured during the activity, allowing students to observe their diversity and features up close.
Students also took part in measuring, recording data, and releasing the bats after capture. The experience provided hands-on learning about field research methods and responsible wildlife management—skills developed from the first year of UVG’s biology degree.
The bats were found near Parking Lot No. 1 at UVG, which is part of the Río Contreras watershed—an area that holds special interest for both the university and urban green space conservation efforts.
All captured bats were released after identification. The recorded species included:
- Godman’s long-nosed bat (Choeroniscus godmani), which feeds mainly on nectar using its long snout and extendable tongue;
- Jamaican fruit bat (Artibeus jamaicensis), a frugivore important for dispersing seeds that help regenerate tropical forests;
- Ludovici’s fruit-eating bat (Sturnira ludovici), which prefers fruits from Solanaceae plants but also eats other small fruits and some flowers, contributing to seed dispersal in secondary forests.
Beyond academic goals, “Noche Murcielaguera” served a social purpose by bringing together current students with those interested in joining UVG’s biology program. Participants shared experiences, discussed scientific training, and highlighted biologists’ role in environmental conservation.
Students benefit from exclusive access to UVG's Biological Collections, which house over 30,000 registered specimens—the largest such collection for amphibians and reptiles in Central America.
Field activities like this help future biologists develop critical thinking skills, apply scientific methods, and prepare for careers that impact sustainability within Guatemala.
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