The genus Myotis comprises a diverse group of vespertilionid bats with worldwide distribution. Twenty-eight Neotropical species are currently recognized. In this study, we evaluate molecular and morphological variation in the M. keaysi complex, a high elevation clade of Neotropical myotine bats characterized by complex taxonomy and high morphological variation. A phylogeny inferred with cytochrome-b sequences recovered two clades composed of samples traditionally assigned to M. keaysi, with 9% of genetic divergence between them. These clades were also suggested as putative distinct species by molecular species delimitation methods. Qualitative and quantitative morphological analyses indicated a phenotypic discontinuity between specimens from central Andes (including the holotype of M. keaysi) and western lowlands of Ecuador, showing strong congruence between molecular and morphological approaches. We therefore describe a new species for the Tumbes-Choco-Magdalena region, documenting their external and cranial diagnostic characters by comparing them with other Neotropical species. In addition, we provide an emended diagnosis for our new concept of M. keaysi.
CITATION STYLE
Novaes, R. L. M., Cláudio, V. C., Carrión-Bonilla, C., Abreu, E. F., Wilson, D. E., Maldonado, J. E., & Weksler, M. (2022). Variation in the Myotis keaysi complex (Chiroptera, Vespertilionidae), with description of a new species from Ecuador. Journal of Mammalogy, 103(3), 540–559. https://doi.org/10.1093/jmammal/gyab139
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