NEW YORK, BRONX (ORDO News) — After being lost to science for more than a century, the strange big-eared brown bat, also known as Histiotus alienus, has been rediscovered by a team of dedicated researchers.
First described in 1916 by British zoologist Oldfield Thomas, this elusive species was originally identified from a single specimen found in Joinville, Paraná, Brazil. Since then, no further sightings or captures have been reported, leaving scientists with only limited knowledge about this intriguing bat.
However, in 2018, during field expeditions as part of the Promasto research project, a team of scientists led by Dr. Vinicius C. Claudio and Dr. Ricardo Moratelli from Fundação Oswaldo Cruz and Dr. Liliani M. Tiepolo from the Federal University of Paraná made an amazing discovery. During research in the Palmas Grassland reserve, they managed to catch a single individual of the big-eared bat, which is unlike any previously found in the region.
Using fog nets, specialized equipment for catching bats and birds, the researchers were able to safely capture the bat and compare it to the widespread tropical long-eared brown bat. To their surprise, they discovered that this bat belonged to a completely different species – the long-extinct strange long-eared brown bat.
To confirm their findings, the researchers carefully studied the captured individual and compared it with hundreds of other long-eared brown bats. After careful examination, they were able to conclusively identify this individual as a strange long-eared brown bat, making only the second known recording of this species. The sample was deposited at the National Museum of Rio de Janeiro for further study.
The strange long-eared brown bat is characterized by oval-shaped enlarged ears connected by a very low membrane. It has an overall dark brown coloration on both the dorsal and ventral fur, and its overall length is approximately 100-120 mm. Interestingly, it is very similar in physical characteristics to the southern big-eared brown bat, especially in the almost complete absence of membranes connecting the ears.
One of the most intriguing aspects of this new find is the fact that the only previously known record of the strange long-eared brown bat was made in Joinville, Santa Catarina, which is about 280 km from where it was spotted in 2018 . This suggests that the species has a wider distribution than previously thought and is found in a variety of habitats such as dense tropical forests, araucaria and riparian forests, and grasslands. It is also capable of thriving at altitudes ranging from sea level to over 1200 m above sea level.
Despite this exciting find, the conservation status of the strange big-eared brown bat is still classified as Data Deficient due to ongoing threats to the habitat. The researchers emphasize the importance of further research and conservation efforts to better understand and protect this rare species.
According to Dr. Vinicius C. Claudio, one of the lead researchers involved in the rediscovery: “The strange big-eared brown bat represents a fascinating mystery in the world of bat conservation. Its rediscovery opens up new research opportunities and highlights the need for further conservation efforts and preserving the biodiversity of our planet.”
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