Corresponding author: Leopoldo Ferreira de Oliveira Bernardi (
Academic editor: M.E. Bichuette
Albinism is a type of deficient in melanin production could be the result of genetic anomalies that are manifest as the absence of coloration of part or the entire body of an organism. This type of chromatic disorder can affect several vertebrate species, but is rarely found in nature. Among bats, more than 450 cases of total or partial loss of body pigmentation have been reported. Herein we provide the first report of albinism for the bat species
Bernardi LFO, Prous X, Ribeiro MS, Mascarenhas J, Genelhú SMC, Simões MH, Bezerra T (2019) First record of albinism for the doglike bat,
Deficiency in melanin production is a rare among vertebrates. Such a condition can cause changes in the coloration of specific body parts, such as skin, hair, feathers, scales or the eye, and can even reach extreme cases where there is complete absence of pigmentation throughout the entire body. Changes in body color caused by deficient melanin production can generate several conditions, which (
Chromatic aberrations that lead to albinism in bats have been reported in 61 species of 10 families (
There have been 31 reports of the absence of melanin pigmentation for 17 species of bats in Brazil (
Records of albino bats in Brazil.
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Albinism | 1♂ | flyway |
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Piebaldism | 1♂ | flyway |
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Albinism | 1? | tree |
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Albinism | 1 | – |
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Piebaldism | 1♂ | flyway | Souza et al. 2013 |
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Piebaldism | 1♀ | cave |
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Albinism | 1♀ | flyway |
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Piebaldism | 1♀ | flyway |
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Albinism | 1? | tunnel |
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Albinism | 1? | – |
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Albinism | 2♂, 1♀, 1? | 1 cave, 1 flyway, 1? | |
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Albinism | 1♂ | cave | |
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Albinism | 1? | flyway |
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Albinism | 1♂ | – |
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Albinism | 1 | flyway |
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Albinism | 1 | hollow tree | Veiga and Oliveira 1995 |
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Albinism | 1♀ | hollow tree |
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Albinism | 1♀ | flyway |
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Albinism | 1? | – |
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Piebaldism | 2 ♂, 3 ♀ | building |
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Albinism | 1♂ | cave | Present data |
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Albinism | 1 young | cave | Present data |
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Piebaldism | 1♀ | flyway |
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Piebaldism | 1? | – |
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Piebaldism | 1? | flyway |
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The albino bats were observed in Floresta Nacional de Carajás (
Location of the caves where the specimens of
Species surveys at the site have been routine, but since 2008 faunal studies have intensified in the caves of the region, mainly in association with environmental licensing and monitoring. As a result, knowledge of the local chiropterofauna has increased and to date faunal surveys have been carried out in more than 1,000 caves in
The albino bats were observed in 2016 and 2017 in two caves located in
The specimens were observed hanging on walls inside the caves and last than 5 metres from the entrance. The adult male was solitary, while the juvenile was close to other conspecific individuals with normal coloration. Both individuals had complete albinsm, including reddish eyes, which are typical features of albinism (Figure
Albino specimens of
Bats of the genus
The influence or not of albinism in bat individual fitness should be better evaluated, that’s because lack of skin pigmentation could promote a major disadvantage to animals in the wild habitat, the most obvious being an animal’s lack of crypsis with its surroundings, protects sun rays and lost of accuracy of eyesight (
We thank Reginaldo Marins, Paulo Leite, José Macedo and Bruno Henrique for assistance during field activities; Carlos Frederico for help to the elaboration of the map of the study area; VALE S.A. for financial support and the promotion of research; and Brandt Meio Ambiente e Ativo Ambiental for logistic support during field activities in FLONA Carajás. We also thank IBAMA and ICMBIO for authorizing the research, and the Federal University of Lavras (UFLA), the Coordination of Improvement of Higher Level Personnel (CAPES) and the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) for providing financial support and scholarships.