Addis Ababa, June 16, 2025 (FMC) – A new species of bat weighing only six grams has been discovered in the Brazilian Pantanal wilderness region. Named “Myotis guarani” in honour of the Indigenous Guarani people who traditionally inhabited the area, TV BRICS reported, citing Brazilian online newspaper Metrópoles.
The discovery was made by researchers from the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation in collaboration with the Federal University of Mato Grosso (UFMT), and the University of Porto in Portugal, and was published in the Journal of Mammalogy.
The species was first identified through genetic analysis, which indicated a previously unclassified member of the Myotis genus. This prompted a closer examination of morphological features using specimens from historical biological collections. Researcher Roberto Novaes explained that although this bat had been documented over 120 years ago, it was mistakenly identified as one of the 35 known Myotis species.
Myotis guarani is an insectivorous bat, feeding solely on insects. According to Novaes, it can consume over 200 insects per night, including moths, mosquitoes, and beetles.
Bats like this one play a vital ecological role by controlling insect populations, aiding in pollination, and supporting the dispersal of native plant seeds, which are crucial for ecosystem health and resilience.