First record of the collared sprite, Thainycteris aureocollaris (Chiroptera, Vespertilionidae) from China

(Uploaded by Plazi for the Bat Literature Project) Thainycteris aureocollaris is a rare vespertilionid bat species reported from remote forest habitats of Lao PDR, Vietnam, and Thailand. In 15 September 2015, one Vespertilionid bat with a well-defined ochraceous collar running from the base of ears across the throat was collected at Shuijia Village, Guizhou Province, China. Based on its morphological characteristics and phylogenetic inference using partial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene, it was identified as T. aureocollaris, ­representing the first record of the species in China. This northernmost occurrence largely extends the species' potential distribution area, and through Maxent modeling, its potentially suitable habitats are mapped herewith.