title: First evidence of frugivory in Myotis (Chiroptera, Vespertilionidae, Myotinae).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Myotis occurs from tropical to temperate regions throughout the globe, and it is the largest bat genus with more than 100 species. Most species are insect-eaters, but a few also feed on other invertebrates and fishes; there is no confirmed evidence of a plant item in their diet.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  During fieldwork in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, small seeds were retrieved from the feces of one adult female of the Black Myotis, Myotis nigricans-one of the most common Neotropical bats. In a germination experiment, 40% of those seeds grew into seedlings. Our findings are the first evidence of fruit consumption for any Myotis species. We reject a possible contamination because the cotton bag was never used before for bats. This study is the first evidence of frugivory in the genus Myotis.
authors.affiliation: Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Roberto Leonan Morim
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Novaes
authors.affiliation: Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Renan de França
authors.initials: Rde F
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.affiliation: Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Edvandro Abreu
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.affiliation: Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: André Costa
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Siqueira
authors.affiliation: Museu Nacional, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Alexandre Verçosa
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Greco
authors.affiliation: Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Moratelli
keywords: Black Myotis; Brazilian Atlantic Forest; Neotropics; feeding habits