Molecular evidence supports de validity of the rare Patagonian endemic bat specis, Eptesicus (Histiotus) magellanicus

GIANNINI, NORBERTO P.; ANALÍA LAURA GIMENEZ; ALMEIDA, FRANCISCA C.

Pirenopolis

Congreso; 9 Congresso Brasileiro de Mastozoologia; 2017

Sociedade Brasileira de Mastozoologia

The genus belongs to Vespertilionidae, the largest chiropteran family with c. 407 species. Some South American species show distinctive morphological features that prompted the erection of a separate genus for them, . Recent molecular phylogenetic studies, however, suggest that represents a subgenus instead, as species from South America are more closely related to than to their Old World congeners. Among the eight species originally classified as is , the southern big-eared brown bat, an endemic of the Patagonian region. The validity of its specific status has been contested by some authors that believe it is instead a synonym or subspecies of , a widespread species distributed from Venezuela to southern Argentina. Here we present molecular evidence of the distinctiveness of . We sequenced the cytochrome b gene of several specimens of this and two other species ( and ), all of which were collected in the Province of Chubut in Argentina. We also sequenced two individuals of () from Perú and obtained previously published sequences of four Eptesicus sensu stricto species. Phylogenetic tree searches were performed using different methods, all of which recovered individuals identified as in a monophyletic clade with high statistical support, sister to another highly supported clade containing all other samples. On the other hand, all specimens identified as and were grouped in a single clade with very little internal variation and no phylogenetic resolution. Our results are in accordance with previous studies in that is paraphyletic in relation to Histiotus. Further resolution on the specific status of and will require additional analysis including nuclear markers and a larger sampling.