Abstract

Myotis atacamensis is a vespertilionid bat known from western Peru to northern and central Chile, where it is usually associated with coastal deserts. Here, we report the southernmost record of the species, extending its geographical distribution by 160 km. This represents the first observation of M. atacamensis in the temperate sclerophyllous forest of central Chile, a pluviseasonal Mediterranean-climate ecosystem, suggesting it might not be restricted to arid and semiarid environments, as previously thought. We also present the first description of echolocation calls of this understudied species.