Expanding the knowledge of the bat fauna of the Brazilian Caatinga: new geographical records of molossid bats (Chiroptera, Molossidae) for the Chapada Diamantina region, with taxonomic notes

The Caatinga, an exclusive biome in Brazil, is the largest tropical dry forest area in the Americas. It is characterized by a semi-arid climate and various soils that harbor a great diversity of flora and fauna. Novel records of aerial insectivorous bat species in the family Molossidae in the Chapada Diamantina, northeastern Brazil are presented. The study is based on field sampling of 115 molossid bat specimens from six genera and 12 taxonomically confirmed species, along with four taxa requiring further evaluation for definitive species identification. All specimens were obtained using mist nets around a small freshwater lagoon surrounded by semideciduous dry forest. The verified genera were <i>Cynomops</i>, <i>Eumops</i>, <i>Molossops</i>, <i>Molossus</i>, <i>Neoplatymops</i>, and <i>Nyctinomops</i>. Our findings enhance the understanding of bat diversity in the Brazilian Caatinga, with the first records of <i>Eumopsdelticus</i>, <i>E.bonariensis</i>, and <i>Molossuscurrentium</i>. The most abundant species were <i>Molossusrufus</i>, <i>Eumopsglaucinus</i>, <i>Cynomopsplanirostris</i>, <i>Nyctinomopslaticaudatus</i>, and <i>Molossusmolossus</i>. Previously unreported morphological and morphometric variations for these Caatinga taxa were examined. Additionally, information on sexual dimorphism in craniodental characteristics of <i>Molossopstemminckii</i> and variations in the presence of the sagittal crest in <i>Neoplatymopsmattogrossensis</i> are provided. Based on the voucher specimens from this study, the recognized number of species of Molossidae known from the Caatinga has increased to 21. Our results offer new insights into the taxonomy and biogeography of Neotropical molossids, highlighting their importance as members of bat communities in dry forest ecosystems from northeastern South America.