Easy prey: Opportunistic predation of great fruit-eating bat (Artibeus lituratus) by ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) with ocular anomaly in Cerros de Amotape National Park, Tumbes

Despite their suitable size, bats (Chiroptera) represent rare-occasional prey for the ocelot ( Leopardus pardalis ), a generalist carnivorous feline with a wide distribution. This work documents the first observed lethal predation attempt of Artibeus lituratus , a Neotropical fruit bat by Leopardus pardalis from a mist net in Peru. The individual of L. pardalis presented an ocular anomaly: the absence of the tapetum lucidum reflex in its left eye, which could have affected its night vision. This observation highlights the plasticity in the hunting behavior of L. pardalis , allowing this individual to persist despite likely visual limitations. In addition, this case emphasizes the value of ecological monitoring to document unusual interactions between predators and prey.