Alternative Names (Synonyms)

• Northern serotine
• Sérotine de Nilsson (France)
• Nordfledermaus (German)
• Murciélago de huerta nortello (Spain)

Alternative species names (the second part of the binomial species names): [Genus] atratus; [Genus] centralasiaticus; [Genus] gobiensis; [Genus] japonensis; [Genus] kashgaricus; [Genus] parvus; [Genus] propinquus; (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 37-44mm, fur dark chestnut and shaggy (hairs on back gold-tipped) and free tail tip to 2-3mm beyond membrane
• (B167)

Very similar to Eptesicus serotinus - Serotine, but smaller, with tail extending only 2-3 not 5mm or more beyond membrane, and fur warmer dark chestnut brown, gold tipped and contrasting with paler underfur (B142, B167).

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

Legs and Tracks

Tail

Coat / Pelage

• Dorsal: dark brown, with irregular golden or light-yellow buff tipping. Sharply divided along side of neck from:
• Ventral: yellowish brown - base dark, tips pale
• Face: and ears blackish.
• Membranes: blackish

(B142, B167).

Neonate (New-born) Characteristics

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

Natural Diet

• Small dipterans, also moths, dung-beetles, insects flying over water.

(B143)

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

Feeding Behaviour

• Feeds in open areas: along woodland edges, over lakes and rives, near street lamps.
• Catches flying insects on the wing.

(B143).

Parental Behaviour

Social Behaviour / Territoriality

• Females defend small feeding territory (even against bats from the same nursery colony): use chases and shrill calls.
• Summer: nursery colonies formed, containing 10-80adult females.
• Stable age-related dominance relationships within nursery colonies.
• Young females are recruited into own natal colony.
• Young males disperse in first year.
• Adult male roost alone during summer.
• Winter: single or groups of 2-4 bats

(B147)

Sexual Behaviour

Predation in Wild

Activity Patterns

General Habitat Type

• Forest and woodland.
• Farms and villages: strongly associated with areas of human habitation in northern parts of range.
• Associated with uplands in southern parts of range; may be seen to 2000m.

(B142, B143)

Nests / Burrows / Shelters

• Roosts in treeholes and buildings: most colonies found in houses.
• Occasionally roosts between boulders on ground in caves.
• Winter: mainly in houses and cellars

(B142, B143)

Distribution and Movement (Migration etc.)

• Eastern France through central Europe and Scandinavia (reaching the Arctic circle), further east to Siberia, Tibet, Japan, northern India (B51, B142, B143, B147).

Movements:

• Non-migratory. Longest recorded movement 115km (B143).

• Rarely vagrant to Britain and Ireland; most likely to be seen in winter (B142).

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Intraspecific variation

Conservation Status

Generally widespread and common across range with increasing population in some areas (B143).

• 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)

• Possible persecution by owners of houses used as roosts (B143).