The distribution of Kerivoula malpasi and Kerivoula picta (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is considered one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots. Although Sri Lanka has a rich diversity of bats, Kerivoula malpasi is the only bat that is endemic to Sri Lanka, where it is represented by only five records. The other known species of Kerivoula in Sri Lanka, Kerivoula picta, is more widely distributed. This study maps the current and historical distributions of the two species. Field observations made from 2016 to 2020 are presented, including 41 new locations for K. picta, which add the northernmost and easternmost records for the species in Sri Lanka. Details from museum specimens of both species are also presented in order to aid future investigations and promote the conservation of these species in the country.