Bat Diversity in Heath and Peat Swamp Forests of Gunung Arong Forest Reserve, Peninsular Malaysia, with the First Mitochondrial COI Gene Record of Arielulus societatis (Chiroptera: Vespertillionidae)

Bats are a vital component of tropical forest ecosystems, providing essential services such as pollination, seed dispersal, and insect population regulation. Despite Malaysia’s high bat diversity, research has largely focused on lowland dipterocarp forests, leaving bat assemblages in specialized forest types poorly documented. To address this gap, a bat survey was conducted in Gunung Arong Forest Reserve, Peninsular Malaysia, with emphasis on heath and peat swamp habitats. Fourteen bat species representing Pteropodidae, Emballonuridae, Hipposideridae, Nycteridae, Rhinolophidae, and Vespertilionidae were recorded. The assemblage exhibited high diversity (H = 2.647) and evenness (e^H/S = 1.008), with low dominance (D = 0.0713), indicating a well-balanced community. Kerivoulinae accounted for 44% of captures, with Kerivoula intermedia as the most abundant species. Four Near Threatened species comprised 50% of all individuals captured, highlighting the conservation importance of these habitats. Notably, Arielulus societatis, endemic to Peninsular Malaysia, was recorded for the first time in Johor and represents the first documented occurrence in heath forests. The first mitochondrial COI sequence for A. societatis revealed a 5.44% genetic divergence from A. circumdatus. These findings underscore the ecological significance of heath and peat swamp forests and emphasize the need for targeted research and strengthened conservation efforts in Peninsular Malaysia.