First record of albinism for the hairy-legged vampire bat, Diphylla ecaudata Spix, 1823 (Mammalia, Chiroptera, Phyllostomidae),and a review of cases of albinism in the Neotropics

Abstract

Albinism is a chromatic anomaly characterized by the absence of melanin in the skin, fur, and eyes. There are at least 67 bat species with albinism records, but this number represents only 4.5% of the bats of the world, indicating a rare anomaly. Reports of bat albinism in the Neotropical region are even rarer, emphasizing the importance of documenting these eventual cases. Here, we document the first case of albinism in Diphylla ecaudata Spix, 1823 and present an updated list of records of albinism in bats in the Neotropical region. The juvenile was observed in the cave of the Carajás National Forest, Pará, Brazil, during both daytime and nighttime in November 2024. The bat had complete albinism with all-white hair, including pale skin and reddish eyes. With this record, 28 bat species (including three hematophagous species) have documented occurrences of albinism.