| Bechstein's bat | |
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Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Chiroptera |
| Family: | Vespertilionidae |
| Genus: | Myotis |
| Species: | M. bechsteinii |
| Binomial name | |
| Myotis bechsteinii | |
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| Distribution of Bechstein's bat | |
Bechstein's bat (Myotis bechsteinii) is a species of vesper bat found in Europe and western Asia, living in extensive areas of woodland.
Bechstein's bat is a medium-sized and relatively long-eared bat. The adult has a long, fluffy fur which is reddish-brown above and gray-white below. It has a pinkish face, and its ears are long and broad. The wings are dark brown and rather broad, with the membrane attached to the base of the feet. [2] Its wingspan measures up to 30 cm (11.8 in.) and it has a head-to-body length of 5 cm (1.9 in) [3]
Bechstein's bat feeds chiefly on flying prey such as moths, dipterans, neuropterans and other small nocturnal insects. [1] Analysis of droppings from the Isle of Wight and Wiltshire shows a diet consisting of dung flies, grasshoppers, nut weevils, and moths. Populations cut off from forest land are recorded to shift to a diet of terrestrial insects and spiders caught from the ground. Bechstein's bats typically forage within one or two kilometers of their roost, and hunt primarily in the forest canopy. [4]
Tree holes, typically woodpecker holes, are used for roosting. Bechstein's bat is also recorded to enter artificial nest boxes, but rarely roosts in human buildings. Over the winter, Bechstein's bats hibernate underground and in tree holes. Mating happens in autumn and spring, and delayed fertilization means that young (one per female) are born early in the following summer. Maternity colonies typically form late in the spring. [4]
Bechstein's bat can be found in the following countries: Austria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Georgia, Germany, Hungary, Iran, Italy, Liechtenstein, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom and Iran. [1]
In the United Kingdom, Bechstein's bat occurs chiefly in southeastern Great Britain, which consists of the northernmost extent of its range. [4] Although, according to the map on the right it occurs in Southern Sweden. It is found in the Forest of Dean and Herefordshire. In 2009 a detailed study by The Bat Conservation Trust of 10 counties took place to determine the range of the Bechstein's bat and in 2010 a lactating female Bechstein's was discovered in Grafton Wood, an Ancient Wood originally part of the Forest of Feckenham and jointly owned by the Worcestershire Wildlife Trust and Butterfly Conservation, suggesting that there was a breeding colony in the wood or close by. The following year Bechstein's were again found at Grafton Wood and also at Trench Wood, also in Worcestershire . The People's Trust for Endangered Species are funding further research work at Grafton Wood. [5] A single male was caught and recorded near Colby in Southern Pembrokeshire. [6]
Bechstein's bat is specialized for inhabiting forested areas, and is rarely found outside of them. It is recorded in mixed forests in southwestern Asia, but European populations prefer deciduous forests with high proportions of old trees. Beech and oak woodlands make up a large portion of the animal's habitat. Bechstein's bats are occasionally also found in orchards, gardens and other cultivated areas. [1]
Bechstein's bat is protected under the European Habitats Directive.
In the UK it is one of the region's rarest and most endangered species. It estimated that 21,600 individuals exist in the whole region, the true population size is difficult to estimate and three potential error sources have been identified in this estimate as such a range of 10,300 and 55,600 individuals is provided. [7] Woodlands containing it may be considered for notification as a Site of Special Scientific Interest and may attract a grant under Natural Englands Environmental Stewardship scheme. On the rare chance one is spotted in the wild, authorities suggest immediately reporting it to a local batgroup or the wildlife trust.
The frequencies used by this bat species for echolocation lie between 35 and 108 kHz. Its echolocation calls have the most energy at 61 kHz, and have an average duration of 3.3 ms. [8] [9] Most of its echolocation is in the 50–60 kHz range.
Natterer's bat is a European vespertilionid bat with pale wings. It has brown fur tending to greyish-white on its underside. It is found across most of the continent of Europe, parts of the Near East and North Africa. It feeds on insects and other invertebrates which it catches on the wing or pursues on the ground.
The Indiana bat is a medium-sized mouse-eared bat native to North America. It lives primarily in Southern and Midwestern U.S. states and is listed as an endangered species. The Indiana bat is grey, black, or chestnut in color and is 1.2–2.0 in long and weighs 4.5–9.5 g (0.16–0.34 oz). It is similar in appearance to the more common little brown bat, but is distinguished by its feet size, toe hair length, pink lips, and a keel on the calcar.
The western barbastelle, also known as the barbastelle or barbastelle bat, is a European bat in the genus Barbastella. This species is found from Portugal to Azerbaijan and from Sweden to Canary Islands, where a sub-species was identified. It has a short nose, small eyes and wide ears. The conservation status of B. barbastellus is assessed as "near threatened", "vulnerable", "critically endangered" or "extinct" in various parts of its range.
The common noctule is a species of insectivorous bat common throughout Europe, Asia, and North Africa.
The greater mouse-eared bat is a European species of bat in the family Vespertilionidae.
The Hawaiian hoary bat, also known as ʻōpeʻapeʻa, is a species of bat endemic to the islands of Hawaiʻi. The Hawaiian hoary bat occupies the major Hawaiian islands, making it the only extant and native terrestrial mammal in the islands. Some studies report that the mainland hoary bat lives in sympatry on the Hawaiian Islands alongside the Hawaiian hoary bat, although this is disputed. The Hawaiian hoary bat was officially named the state land mammal of Hawaiʻi in 2015. It is a federally listed endangered taxon of the United States.
Rafinesque's big-eared bat, sometimes known as the southeastern big-eared bat, is a species of vesper bat native to the southeastern United States.
Brandt's bat or Brandt's myotis is a species of vesper bat in the family Vespertilionidae. It is native throughout most of Europe and parts of western Asia.
The Chilean myotis is a species of vesper bat found in southern South America.
The fringed myotis is a species of vesper bat that is found in British Columbia, Mexico, and the western United States.
The Seychelles sheath-tailed bat is a sac-winged bat found in the central granitic islands of the Seychelles. They are nocturnal insectivores that roost communally in caves. The species was previously abundant across much of the archipelago, but has since seen a substantial loss of habitat. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has listed the species as being critically endangered, due to population decline. This is mainly due to an increase in land development and the introduction of invasive species.
The little brown bat or little brown myotis is an endangered species of mouse-eared microbat found in North America. It has a small body size and glossy brown fur. It is similar in appearance to several other mouse-eared bats, including the Indiana bat, northern long-eared bat, and Arizona myotis, to which it is closely related. Despite its name, the little brown bat is not closely related to the big brown bat, which belongs to a different genus.
Myotis septentrionalis, known as the northern long-eared bat or northern myotis, is a species of bat native to North America. There are no recognized subspecies. The northern long-eared bat is about 3–3.7 inches in length, with a wingspan of 9–10 inches. It is distinguishable by its long ears when comparing it to other bats in its genus. This species is commonly found in the northern United States and Southern Canada east of British Columbia. The geographic range includes 37 states.
The pond bat is a species of vesper bat. It is found in Eurasia from France to Russia and Kazakhstan.
Daubenton's bat or Daubenton's myotis is a Eurasian bat with rather short ears. It ranges from Ireland to Japan (Hokkaido) and is considered to be increasing its numbers in many areas.
There are eighteen indigenous species of bats in Canada, which are found in many parts of the country. They are insectivores, and are prey to falcons, hawks, owls, snakes, cats, and raccoons.
The Devon Bat Group (DBG) was founded in 1984 to help protect bats and their habitats, to look after injured bats and to advise and educate people about bats.
Grafton Wood is a nature reserve near the village of Grafton Flyford, about 6 miles (9.7 km) east of Worcester, in Worcestershire, England.
A maternity colony refers to a temporary association of reproductive female bats for giving birth to, nursing, and weaning their pups. The colonies are initiated by pregnant bats. After giving birth, the colony consists of the lactating females and their offspring. After weaning, juveniles will leave the maternity colony, and the colony itself will break apart. The size of a maternity colony is highly variable by species, with some species forming colonies consisting of ten or fewer individuals, while the largest maternity colony in the world in Bracken Cave is estimated to have over 15 million bats.
The Bath and Bradford-on-Avon Bats SAC is a Special Area of Conservation originally designated under the European Union's Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC), also known as the Directive on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Fauna and Flora.
Media related to Myotis bechsteinii at Wikimedia Commons
Data related to Myotis bechsteinii at Wikispecies| Authority control databases: National |
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