Benkeith's short-tailed bat

Benkeith's short-tailed bat is a leaf-nosed bat species found in Peru, Bolivia, and Brazil. It very closely resembles the chestnut short-tailed bat, and the two species are likely often confused.

Taxonomy and etymology

Benkeith's short-tailed bat was described as a new species in 2006. The holotype had been collected in 1983, to the south of Tingo María, Peru.
The eponym for the species name "benkeithi" was Ben E. Keith, who donated $5 million to Texas Tech University.

Description

Benkeith's short-tailed bat is a relatively small species of short-tailed fruit bat. It has a forearm length of and a head and body length of. The fur on its back is chestnut brown, while its belly fur is a dull, grayish-brown.

Biology and ecology

Based on stable isotope analysis, it likely consumes a considerable amount of insects in addition to plant material such as fruit.

Range and habitat

Benkeith's short-tailed bat is found in northeastern Bolivia, eastern Peru, and western Brazil. In Brazil, it is uncommon within the central Amazon basin.