Cryptic diversity and range extension in the big-eyed bat genus (Chiroptera, Phyllostomidae).

Since the last systematic review of (big-eyed bats) more than two decades ago, we report on biodiversity surveys that expand the distribution and species diversity of this Neotropical genus. The Caribbean endemic species is documented for the first time from Nevis in the northern Lesser Antilles. A broader geographic sampling for a molecular analysis identifies a paraphyletic relationship in with respect to . Cis-Andean populations of are most closely related to the morphologically distinctive and allopatrically distributed in the Cerrado and Atlantic Forest of Brazil and Paraguay. The sister taxon to this grouping includes trans-Andean populations of , which we recommend to elevate to species status as . This is an example of a cryptic species because was previously considered morphologically similar to , but more detailed examination revealed that it lacks a posterolabial accessory cusp on the lower second premolar and has a narrower breadth of the braincase. We provide an amended description of .