Seventeen Species of Bats Recorded from Barro Colorado Island, Panama Canal Zone

On a tiny, forest‑covered island in the heart of the Panama Canal, a team of naturalists set out to refresh the inventory of its nocturnal flyers. Over a few weeks in the spring of 1952 they draped silk nets across forest trails and waterways, capturing bats for careful measurement, banding, and identification. Their meticulous approach—balancing scientific rigor with a strong ethic of leaving the island’s ecosystem undisturbed—offers a vivid snapshot of fieldwork in a tropical research sanctuary.

The results reveal a surprisingly diverse assemblage, with seventeen species recorded, including several that had only been hinted at in earlier surveys. Detailed notes on weight, reproductive status, and roosting habits bring these elusive creatures to life, while the practice of wing‑banding allows individual histories to be tracked without harming the animals. Collaborative efforts with local custodians and seasoned taxonomists ensure that each identification is solid, making this study a valuable reference for anyone interested in bat ecology, tropical biodiversity, or the art of conscientious scientific exploration.