Alternative Names (Synonyms)

• Barbastelle
• Barbastelle d'Europe (French)
• Mopsfledermaus (German)
• Murciélago de bosque (Spanish)
• Vespertilio barbastellus Schreber, 1774; France.

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

Names for new-borns / juveniles

General Appearance

Similar Species

• Nose with simple shape (no horseshoe).
• Base of ears joined at top of head.
• Ear less than 20mm long and with length not much greater than width; tragus basically triangular (B167).

References

Species Author

Major References

Husbandry references:

B151, P19.1.w7, B168.7.w7, P19.1.w7, B142

• 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 40-52mm (B142).
• Forearm 36-43mm (B142).
• Wingspan 245-280mm (B142).

Head

Nose: Muzzle short, broad, glandular (B142).

Ears: Length and width similar, 14-16mm, black, close together on head - united by low band across forehead. Conspicuous notch on external margins. Tragus large, slightly more than half of ear length, triangular (B142, B147).

Legs and Tracks

• Forearm 36-43mm (B142).
• Wingspan 245-280mm (B142).

Tail

Coat / Pelage

• Dorsal: Blackish-brown. Hair tips pale yellow/cream therefore appears "frosted".
• Ventral: grey-brown, hair tips paler.
• Face and ears: very dark brown (almost black).
• Membranes: very dark brown (almost black).
• N.B. fur extends onto tail membrane and wings.

(B142, B147, B167)

Neonate (New-born) Characteristics

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

Natural Diet

• Insects: mainly microlepidopterans and small dipterans (B143).

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

Feeding Behaviour

Parental Behaviour

Social Behaviour / Territoriality

• Females in nursery roosts separate from males.
• Males solitary.

Winter:

• May be found in large numbers in tight clusters at one site in January/February when very cold.
• Usually solitary or small groups.

(B142, B143)

Sexual Behaviour

Predation in Wild

Activity Patterns

• Preferred hibernation temperature mean 4.0°C, some preferring 0°C (B142).
• Flight: usually low, often over water. Heavy, fluttering/flapping, relatively slow.
• Faster flight when travelling to feeding areas.
• Usually alight head upwards.
• Hibernation late September to early April

(B142, B147)

• Emergence variable: quite early, sometimes begin before sunset.
• Intermittent activity through the night.

(B142, B147)

General Habitat Type

• Wooded river valleys preferred (B142).
• Forested and upland habitats probably preferred (B143).
• 170-1990m in Austria and to 2260 in Pyrenean mountains (B143).

Nests / Burrows / Shelters

• Hollow trees, buildings.
• Nursery colonies: often behind shutters.
• Hibernation: caves, bunkers, tunnels, cellars

(B142, B143).

Distribution and Movement (Migration etc.)

• England, France, Morocco and possibly Senegal, to Caucasus (B51).
• Northern Iberian Peninsula across Europe to southern Scandinavia, Latvia, Caucasus. Present on some Mediterranean islands, Canary Islands and Morocco. Not found in most of Scandinavia, Estonia, much of southern Europe (B143)
• Britain: England and Wales, not Scotland or Northern Ireland.
• Movement: flights of up to 290km recorded (B143)

• Single record from Ireland (B143).

--.

Intraspecific variation

• None known (B143).

Conservation Status

• Little known, appears rare in western Europe, with decrease across most of European range, and considered endangered in e.g. Germany, Switzerland, France, Belgium.
• Probably higher population densities in central Europe.

(B143)

• In Britain: native, "widespread but rare". Pre-breeding population estimate of about 5,000, including 4,500 in England, 0 in Scotland, 500 in Wales. Population estimate was made with little information available; data believed to be "within the right order of magnitude". (B221)

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

• Vulnerable (B143, B147).

• Disturbance, illegal persecution, loss of roosts, loss of prey (B143).