Chrotopterus auritus (Peters, 1856) (chiroptera, phyllostomidae): First record for the state of rio grande do norte, northeastern Brazil

Abstract

Chrotopterus auritus is a phyllostomid bat with a wide distribution in the Neotropics. It has been recorded in Brazil’s 6 biomes but with few records in the Caatinga. We provide the first record of C. auritus for Rio Grande do Norte state, northeastern Brazil, based on records from 2 caves, Três Inchu and Gruta da Carrapateira. The nearest records are ca. 400 km southeast in Ceará state and ca. 350 km northwest in Pernambuco state. Our new records fill the northeastern distributional gap of C. auritus in Brazil and South America.