First record of brown long-eared bat Plecotus auritus (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) for Sicily island (Italy)

The knowledge of the bat fauna of Sicily (Southern Italy) is scarce,fragmentary or sometimes even confusing. A recent review mentioned 20species for the region, but it is likely that the checklist of bats ofSicily is still far from being exhaustive. To help fill this gap, inthe past few years specific studies were carried out on thedistribution of bat species in Sicily, especially in the woodlands ofthe Nebrodi Mountains. In the municipality of Caronia (Messinaprovince) has captured a young female brown long-eared bat Plecotusauritus (Linneaus, 1758). The capture of P. auritus in Sicilyrepresents the first record of brown long-eared bat Plecotus auritusfor Sicily island, an interesting biogeographical record, as this batis mostly known for the north and centre of the Italian peninsula