Dinelli's Myotis (Myotis dinellii) lives in desert scrub across South America. It feeds on insects and spiders. Its conservation status is Least Concern.
Fascinating facts about the Dinelli's Myotis
- Dinelli's myotis is a vesper bat that inhabits the southern part of the continent. It ranges from central Bolivia south throughout western and central Argentina and easternmost Chile, showing a broad latitudinal spread. The species also makes use of many roosting sites, including artificial structures, which broadens its habitat options across this range.
- The first scientific record of Dinelli's myotis was made by the zoologist Oldfield Thomas in 1902, establishing its formal name Myotis dinellii. That early description laid the foundation for later taxonomic work, distinguishing it from related bats. The naming event marks the species' entry into scientific literature over a century ago.
- Until 2006 Dinelli's myotis was considered only a subspecies of the yellowish myotis, but the IUCN Red List promoted it to full species status that year. The elevation followed a publication that explicitly split the two taxa. Supporting this change, a 2013 study showed they differ both morphologically and genetically, leading ITIS to list them as separate species as well.
- A 2013 study confirmed that Dinelli's myotis is morphologically and genetically distinct from the yellowish myotis, reinforcing earlier taxonomic changes. The research showed clear differences in shape and DNA, which prompted ITIS to recognise it as a separate species. This distinction follows the 2006 IUCN decision that split the two taxa after a publication highlighted their differences.
- The IUCN Red List records Dinelli's myotis as occurring in southeastern Brazil, a zone that also hosts the yellowish myotis. This Brazilian presence lies outside the core range that extends from central Bolivia through western and central Argentina to easternmost Chile, and the American Society of Mammalogists does not accept the Brazilian record.
Sources
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At a glance
RangeSouth America
HabitatDesert scrub
DietInsects and spiders
About the Dinelli's Myotis
In the warm, golden light of dusk, the Dinelli's Myotis emerges from its hidden roosts, unfolding its delicate wings as it takes to the evening skies with a gentle, whispery flutter. With echolocation calls that pierce the air like tiny, high-pitched sparks, this diminutive bat navigates the intricate landscape of trees and shrubs, its agile form darting and weaving through the shadows with an effortless, weightless grace. As it hunts for insects in the fading light, its very presence seems a reminder of the mysterious, unseen worlds that thrive just beyond the reach of human perception.
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