Alternative Names (Synonyms)

• Pipistrelle de Nathusius (French)
• Rauhhautfledermaus (German)
• Murciélago de Nathusius (Spanish)
• Vespertilio nathusii Keyserling & Blasius, 1839; Germany.

Alternative species names (the second part of the binomial species names): [Genus] unicolor; (B141).

Names for new-borns / juveniles

General Appearance

Similar Species

• Simple nose shape (no horseshoe)
• Ears well separated from one another at base
• Post-calcarial lobe present on membrane
• Forearm less than 37mm long.

Distinguished from Pipistrellus pipistrellus - Pipistrelle by:

• Larger.
• Forearm length 32-37mm.
• Length of first digit from wrist to tip divided by forearm over 1.25 (versus less than 1.25 for Pipistrellus pipistrellus).
• Dental differences: incisors taller and thinner, with distinct gap between second and third lower incisors, also third upper premolar larger, extending well beyond cingulum of canine tooth.
• (B142, B167)

Dental differences required to separate from other Pipistrellus spp. (B142)

References

Species Author

Major References

Husbandry references:

• Wildlife and Countryside Directorate, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR)
• The Mammal Society
• Mammals Trust
• Bat Conservation Trust
• London Bat Group

• --

TAXA Group (where information has been collated for an entire group on a modular basis)

Parent Group

• Insectivorous Bats (Microchiroptera)

Specific Needs Group referenced in Management Techniques

• Insectivorous Bats (Microchiroptera)

Husbandry Information

Notes

• Accommodation of Casualty Insectivorous Bats
• Hand-rearing Insectivorous Bats
• Catching and Handling of Insectivorous Bats
• Feeding of Casualty Insectivorous Bats
• Release of Casualty Insectivorous Bats

Measurement & Weight

• Head-body length 44-54mm (B142)
• Forearm 31-36.5mm (B142)

Head

Nose:

Ears: Length 10.5-16mm, with tragus 6.0-8.0mm (B142).

Legs and Tracks

Tail

Coat / Pelage

• Dorsal: hairs have has pale tips, therefore "frosted" appearance.
• Ventral: paler.
• Wing: ventral surface haired to elbow and with 55mm band of hair extending to wrist just posterior to forearm.

(B142, B167)

Neonate (New-born) Characteristics

Detailed Anatomy Notes
(Summary information provided for pertinent species-specific data cross-referenced in Wildpro)

Natural Diet

• Flying insects, small-to medium size:
• Chironomidae (non-biting midges) are main prey.

(B143).

Detailed Physiology Notes
(Summary information provided for pertinent species-specific data cross-referenced in Wildpro)

Feeding Behaviour

• Hunt over water and along rides, paths, woodland edges (B143).

Parental Behaviour

Social Behaviour / Territoriality

Sexual Behaviour

• Promiscuous (B142).

Predation in Wild

Activity Patterns

General Habitat Type

• Mixed and pine forests, parkland, riparian habitats.
• Usually lowland basins but to 2200m in Alps.

(B143)

Nests / Burrows / Shelters

• Summer: hollow trees, bat boxes, bird boxes. Also buildings (wooden churches, residential buildings).
• Winter: cliff crevices, hollow trees, cracks in buildings

(B143)

• In Czechoslovakia roosts in crevices in walls, also under roofs of isolated buildings near ponds/at periphery of woods (B142).

Distribution and Movement (Migration etc.)

• Western Europe (rare) to Urals, Caucasus, western Asia Minor (north-east India, to southern China).
• Central and southern European portions of former USSR have highest population density.

(B51, B142, B143, B147)

• A single Nathusius's pipistrelle was found in Belfast in 1996 and breeding colonies were found in Northern Ireland in 1997. It is probable that they have been present for some time but previously have been confused with common pipistrelles (Pipistrellus pipistrellus - Pipistrelle (Species)).(V.w58)

Movements:

• Highly migratory usually in northeast-southwest direction; generally recorded with movements of over 1000km, and maximum recorded movement 1600km (B142); 1905km (B143).

--.

Intraspecific variation

• No subspecies.
• Slight size increase from west to east across Europe.

(B143)

Conservation Status

• Distribution patchy.
• Assumed rare over most of Europe, but may be more common than previously thought.

(B143)

• In Britain: probably a migrant winter visitor, but may breed in Britain. Population estimate: unknown number; records few, mainly of individual bats recorded in May or September (B221).

• Bern Convention, Appendix II.
• Bonn Convention, Appendix II.
• EU Habitats and Species Directive, Annex IV.

(B143)

• All bats are is listed on Schedule 5 (Protected animals) of the LUK2 - Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 of the United Kingdom. (W5.Oct01)
• All bats are listed on Schedule 6 (Animals which may not be killed or taken by certain methods) of the LUK2 - Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 of the United Kingdom. (W5.Oct01)