First records of Myotis ruber and Molossus pretiosus for the state of Ceará, Northeast Brazil

Abstract

The Chiroptera order ranks second in terms of species richness among mammals.  Among its families, Molossidae and Vespertilionidae stand out because they have a cosmopolitan distribution and are found on all continents, comprising 134 and 531 species, respectively.  In Brazil, there are currently documented 181 chiropteran species, with 32 belonging to Molossidae and 26 to Vespertilionidae, making them the most abundant families after Phyllostomidae.  The aim was to document the first records of Myotis ruber and Molossus pretiosus in the state of Ceará.  Bats were sampled using mist nets for a duration of 6 hr post-sunset, and their identification followed established literature.  Sampling was conducted in the municipalities of Pacoti and Guaramiranga in the state of Ceará, northeastern Brazil.  This study presents the first records for 2 species of bats, Molossus pretiosus and Myotis ruber, for the state of Ceará in Serra de Baturité.  These records contribute to increasing the species list in the state of Ceará, broaden the distribution of these 2 bat species, and contribute to enhance the understanding of species diversity in northeastern Brazil.