Users should cite this publication when using the DarkCideS 1.0 database and future version releases, especially when using the georeferenced data of caves and bat species. Although we aim to maximise spatial coverage with datasets from across the globe, we acknowledge that geographical biases inevitably exist47. For example, we have multiple datasets from the Palearctic, Indomalayan, and Neotropical realms, whereas very little data originated from the Afrotropical region (Figure 3). We also encountered similar coverage bias in country-level data richness, for example, Indonesia is one of the most diverse countries for estimated cave-dwelling bat species richness17, but a very small number of species were included in the current version of the database. The database is intended as a long-term data-sharing platform, and we hope to fill these gaps in the next versions of the database. Further data and coverage will provide a better index for regional prioritisation in addition to further research on bat diversity patterns and threats.