''Chiroderma vizottoi'' is a species of frugivorous bat found in the northeast of

Brazil Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country in South America. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by area, fifth-largest country by area and the List of countries and dependencies by population ...

Taxonomy

The species was described by Valdir Antonio Taddei and B. K. Lim in a study published in 2010, identifying specimens previously deposited at a research institution that were recognised as the sixth extant species of the genus. The collection date of the

holotype A holotype (Latin: ''holotypus'') is a single physical example (or illustration) of an organism used when the species (or lower-ranked taxon) was formally described. It is either the single such physical example (or illustration) or one of s ...

is unknown, paratypes were collected in 1977 and 2000. The authors distinguished the new taxon by morphological characteristics, cranial features and dentition, and by speciation that emerged through geographical isolation. The specific epithet commemorates the works of Luis Dino Vizotto's contributions toward an understanding of

chiroptera Bats are flying mammals of the order Chiroptera (). With their forelimbs adapted as wings, they are the only mammals capable of true and sustained flight. Bats are more agile in flight than most birds, flying with their very long spread-out ...

systematics Systematics is the study of the diversification of living forms, both past and present, and the relationships among living things through time. Relationships are visualized as evolutionary trees (synonyms: phylogenetic trees, phylogenies). Phy ...

. The spelling of the epithet, as ''vizzotoi'', was erroneously published by the

IUCN The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is an international organization working in the field of nature conservation and sustainable use of natural resources. Founded in 1948, IUCN has become the global authority on the status ...

Description

A mid-sized species of ''

Chiroderma ''Chiroderma'' – big-eyed bats or white-lined bats – is a genus of leaf-nosed bat found in North America, Central America, and South America and the Lesser Antilles. Species The following species were recognized , and a total of seven specie ...

'', a genus of Phyllostomidae known as the big-eyed bats, most closely resembling the species '' Chiroderma doriae'' found across eastern and central Brazil. Forearm measurements range from 46.7 to 50.3 millimetres and the skull at its greatest length is 25.9-26.4 mm. The ventral side of the pelage is slightly paler than the back, a light brown to grey colour. The face bears distinctive striped markings. The fur at the top of the head is white, as is a midline stripe that extends from the shoulder to legs. The skull and body size is smaller than the congener ''C. doriae'', and canines are longer.

Distribution and habitat

''Chiroderma vizottoi'' was thought to be restricted to locations at the northeastern state of

Piauí Piauí ( ) is one of the states of Brazil, located in the country's Northeast Region, Brazil, Northeast Region. The state has 1.6% of the Brazilian population and produces 0.7% of the Brazilian GDP. Piauí has the shortest coastline of any coas ...

in Brazil, but found to also occur at

Ceará Ceará (, ) is one of the 26 states of Brazil, located in the Northeast Region, Brazil, northeastern part of the country, on the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic coast. It is the List of Brazilian states by population, eighth-largest Brazilian State by ...

in the

Caatinga Caatinga () is a type of semi-arid tropical vegetation, and an ecoregion characterized by this vegetation in interior northeastern Brazil. The name "Caatinga" comes from the Tupi word '' ka'atinga'', meaning "white forest" or "white vegetat ...

ecoregion. The four known locations of specimens are from Caatinga forest habitat. The species does not overlap with others of the genus, three of which also occur in nearby regions. As of 2019, it is evaluated as a

data deficient A data deficient (DD) species is one which has been categorized by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as offering insufficient information for a proper assessment of conservation status to be made. This does not necessaril ...

species by the

. It is unlisted in Brazil's national registers of protected species.

References

{{taxobar, from=Q15059414 Chiroderma Taxa described in 2010 Bats of Brazil