Greater mouse-eared bat
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| Greater mouse-eared bat | ||||||||||||||
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| Myotis myotis Borkhausen, 1797 |
The greater mouse-eared bat (Myotis myotis) is a rare Europeean species of bat in the Vespertilionidae family. It is relatively large for a member of the Myotis genus, weighing up to 45 grams (1.6 oz) (a little larger than a house mouse), making it one of the largest European bats.[1] Like its relatives it eats insects, which it catches in flight.
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[edit] Echolocation
The frequencies used by this bat species for echolocation lie between 22-86 kHz, have most energy at 37 kHz and have an average duration of 6.0 ms.[2]
[edit] Distribution
The greater mouse-eared bat can be found in the following countries: Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Gibraltar, possibly [[Greece [RE]]], Hungary, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Turkey, Ukraine, and possibly United Kingdom.
[edit] United Kingdom
During the 20th century this species was known as a very rare one in the United Kingdom, occurring only in southern England. However, the bats at the only known hibernation roost declined until only a few males were left, and when these disappeared the species was believed extinct[3]. However, in recent years several individuals have been discovered, suggesting either that a colony survives, or that further individuals have colonised from mainland Europe.[4]
[edit] References
- Chiroptera Specialist Group 1996. Myotis myotis. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 09 July 2007.
- ^ Van den Brink, F H, A Field Guide to Mammals of Britain and Europe, Collins 1967, ISBN 0 00 212093 3
- ^ Obrist, M.K., Boesch, R. and Flückiger, P.F. (2004) 'Variability in echolocation call design of 26 Swiss bat species: Consequences, limits and options for automated field identification with a synergic pattern recognition approach.' Mammalia., 68 (4): 307-32.
- ^ Species Action Plan: Greater Mouse-eared Bat (Myotis myotis)
- ^ BBC Inside Out: The Search for the Greater Mouse-eared Bat
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