Diet and parasites of Lonchophylla inexpectata Moratelli & Dias, 2015 (Chiroptera, Lonchophyllinae) in the threatened Caatinga scrublands from Ceará (northeastern Brazil)

ABSTRACT

The Genus Lonchophylla Thomas 1903 comprises small bats classified into 12 species distributed along the Neotropical Region with feeding habits associated with pollination of several species. Here we present data on new locations of occurrence of recently described Lonchophylla inexpectata Moratelli & Dias 2015, as well as unprecedented information on associated parasites and feeding habits of the species. Fieldwork was conducted in the years 2000, 2012 and 2013 in a Caatinga area in the State of Ceará, northeastern Brazil. Five Lonchophylla specimens were collected, and after reconsidering taxonomy, these were assigned to L. inexpectata, resulting in a new locality for the known species distribution. Some of the ecological interactions of L. inexpectata with parasites were investigated, as well as the dietary items consumed. Our findings show parasitization of Streblidae (Hexapoda, Diptera) ectoparasites and Capillariidae (Nematoda) endoparasites, and the feeding on nectar of Bauhinia ungulata L. (Fabaceae) and consumption of lepidopterans (Hexapoda, Lepidoptera). Considering that approximately half of the Caatinga native vegetation had been cleared so far, results here presented reinforce the importance of this region for the conservation of bats.

KEYWORDS:

• Lonchophylla inexpectata
• Palynology
• Caatinga
• distribution
• parasites

Acknowledgments

We wish to thank the Associação Caatinga for the authorization to perform the work in the SANR and the collaborations from Alexandre P. Cruz, Mayara Martins, Joyce S. Damascena, Ricardo P. da Rocha and Arianna Camardella regarding the fieldtrip work; Daniela Dias (Fundação Oswaldo Cruz) for his advice concerning bat taxonomy; Sergio Moreira (IRV) for preparing the map; and Alexandre P. Cruz for the photographs.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded by grants provided by the “Conselho Nacional de desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico” (CNPq 470935/2011-1).