The Strange Big-eared Brown Bat, very first described in 1916 in Brazil and not seen since, has actually been rediscovered by a group of scientists. After comparing this perplexing specimen versus hundreds of other big-eared brown bats from practically all the types in the genus, the scientists were able to conclusively determine the bat as a Strange Big-eared Brown Bat and validate its 2nd recognized record. “Since the description of several the types within the genus is more than one hundred years rather vague and old, comparisons and information presented by us will help the appropriate identification of big-eared brown bats,” they say.
The only known record of the Strange Big-eared Brown Bat up until now was from Joinville, Santa Catarina state, southern Brazil, which is about 280 kilometers away from where it was spotted in 2018.
The Strange Big-eared Brown Bat, very first explained in 1916 in Brazil and not seen since, has actually been uncovered by a group of researchers. Caught in Palmas Grassland Wildlife Refuge in 2018, the bat was identified as this uncommon species, exposing its presence in diverse terrains and altitudes, although its conservation status stays classified as Data Deficient due to environment threats.Credit: Cláudio et al
. The Strange Big-eared Brown Bat, Histiotus alienus, was very first explained by science in 1916, by the British zoologist Oldfield Thomas. This account was originated from a lone specimen discovered in Joinville, Paraná, in the southern region of Brazil.
For over a century, no additional captures of the types were reported. It was exclusively identified by its holotype, an unique specimen representing the molecular and physical attributes of the species, housed in The Natural History Museum in London, United Kingdom. Now, after a century, the types has actually been discovered.
Researchers Dr. Vinícius C. Cláudio, Msc Brunna Almeida, Dr. Roberto L.M. Novaes, and Dr. Ricardo Moratelli, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Brazil and Dr. Liliani M. Tiepolo, and Msc Marcos A. Navarro, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Brazil have actually released details on the sighting in a paper in the open access journal ZooKeys.
During field explorations of the research study task Promasto (Mammals from Campos Gerais National Park and Palmas Grasslands Wildlife Refuge) in 2018, the scientists caught one specimen of a big-eared bat at Palmas Grassland Wildlife Refuge. To capture it, they utilized mist internet– equipment used throughout the capture of birds and bats– set at the edge of a forest spot. When they compared it to the Tropical Big-eared Brown Bat (Histiotus velatus), commonly captured in the area, they discovered it was nothing like it.
The unidentified big-eared bat specimen was then collected and deposited at the Museu Nacional in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, for more studies.
The Strange Big-eared Brown Bat, Histiotus alienus. Credit: Cláudio et al
. After comparing this perplexing specimen against numerous other big-eared brown bats from almost all the species in the genus, the scientists were able to conclusively determine the bat as a Strange Big-eared Brown Bat and verify its second recognized record. “Since the description of several the species within the genus is more than one hundred years old and rather unclear, contrasts and information presented by us will help the right identification of big-eared brown bats,” they say.
The Strange Big-eared Brown Bat has oval, enlarged ears that are connected by a very low membrane; general dark brown coloration in both dorsal and ventral fur; and about 100 to 120 mm in total length. This combination of characters most looks like the Southern Big-eared Brown Bat (Histiotus magellanicus), in which the membrane connecting ears is practically missing.
The just known record of the Strange Big-eared Brown Bat till now was from Joinville, Santa Catarina state, southern Brazil, which is about 280 kilometers away from where it was found in 2018. Far, the types is understood to take place in varied terrains, from thick rainforests to araucaria and riparian forests and meadows, at elevations from sea level to over 1200 m a.s.l
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There is still hope: “The new record of H. alienus in Palmas is in a safeguarded area, which shows that at least one population of the species may be secured,” the researchers compose in their study.
Recommendation: “Rediscovery of Histiotus alienus Thomas, 1916 a century after its description (Chiroptera, Vespertilionidae): circulation extension and redescription” by Vinícius C. Cláudio, Brunna Almeida, Roberto L. M. Novaes, Marcos A. Navarro, Liliani M. Tiepolo and Ricardo Moratelli, 14 August 2023, ZooKeys.DOI: 10.3897/ zookeys.1174.108553.