RANGE EXTENSION OF CARRIKER’S ROUND-EARED BAT, Lophostoma carrikeri (ALLEN, 1910) (CHIROPTERA: PHYLLOSTOMIDAE) IN THE CERRADO AND CAATINGA

Lophostoma carrikeri is a bat species widely distributed in the northern portion of South America and has been reported in a great variety of forested habitats. However, it is still poorly represented in scientific collections and wildlife surveys. In Brazil, L. carrikeri is known mainly for the Amazon basin and few localities in the Cerrado and Caatinga biomes. Here we report the first records of Lophostoma carrikeri from the states of Minas Gerais and Ceara based on specimens examined in taxonomic collections and collected during fieldwork. These new records represent the easternmost limits on the distribution of L. carrikeri and expand its known geographic range in approximately 488 km southeast and 490 km east of the nearest known records (Sao Domingos, state of Goias and Teresina, state of Piaui). We also provide measurements, comments on morphological variation and an overall review of the species geographic distribution.