First Record of Natural Predation on Bats by Domestic Cat in Brazil, With Distribution Extension for Phyllostomus Discolor

Abstract

Domestic cats (Felis catus) prey upon bats, but the impact of this predation on bats, and their populations, by domestic cats worldwide has been underestimated. In Brazil, there is no scientific record of this natural predation event. In this paper, I report firsthand observations of domestic cat natural predation on bats in Brazil. The observations took place in an urban area in northeast Brazil and revealed a female cat attacking Artibeus lituratus (Olfer, 1818) and Phyllostomus discolor (Wagner, 1843). It is also the first record of P. discolor in Alagoas state. Two out of five predation records consist of parts of bats (skull and wings) left by the cat. The other three are from entire bats rescued. As many species of bats live in urban environments, information on predation gives access to some threats wildlife living in the cities could be submitted, especially when the predator is a domestic animal.