Thursday, 09 February 2012
Barbastelle Bat
Scientific Name:
Barbastella barbastellus
Weight:
6 - 13.5g
Lifespan:
The maximum recorded age is 23 years. Description
The Barbstelle bat is a medium sized bat that has long silky fur that is dark brown to black in colour. The Barbastelle also has an almost frosted appearance due to the presence of almost white tips at the end of its fur. The wing membranes are either grey/brown or black/brown and are broad in appearance. The tail, also a dark grey/brown, is very large and they have a very small gape to their mouths and relatively week teeth. The Barbastelle has very broad dark grey/brown ears which join on the forehead and this, together with its short facial features, give it a pug like appearance.
Distribution
Within the UK the Barbastelle bat is only present in southern England and Wales and only 1 maternity roost is known. There are also only 30 known hibernation sites.
Habitat
The Barbastelle bats main habitat is broadleaved woodlands with their summer roosts being in trees and old buildings. They will hibernate between Oct and March/April in sites such as trees tunnels or underground locations.
Predators
The threats to the Barbastelle bat are not fully understood although they are sensitive to disturbance and the loss of its preferred broadleaved woodland habitat and loss of roosting sites certainly have a detrimental impact. It is also believed that intensive grazing and fertilisation may have reduced the number of small insect prey available to the Barbastelle bat, as well as resulting in the loss of habitat complexity and associated diversity.
Reproduction
In their second year of life the females will become sexually mature and will mate during the autumn period. The females will gather into their maternity groups and give birth to one or possibly two (although this is rare) offspring in June. During the maternity period males will group together in small groups and live away from the maternities.
Status
The Barbastelle bat is classified as vulnerable by the IUCN Red List and is subject to its own Species Action Plan. Fully protected under Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981) as amended, and by the Conservation (Natural Habitats &c.) Regulations (1994). An agreement on the Conservation of Bats in Europe (EUROBATS) under the auspices of the Bonn Convention, also known as the Convention on Migratory species (CMS) is in force, and all European bats are listed under Appendix II of the CMS.
Did You Know?
The word Barbastella comes from the Latin for Star Beard and is a reference to the white tips present on the Barbastelle's fur.