Tuesday, 14 February 2012
Brandt's Bat
Scientific Name:
Myotis brandti
Weight:
5-9g
Lifespan:
Maximum of 20 years. Description
The Brandt's bat has a shaggy fur that is a light reddish brown in colour with a visible golden sheen on the upper parts of the body and the under belly is usually a pale grey with yellow tinges. The nose, ears and wing membrane are a light brown in colour and although very similar in appearance to the Whiskered bat, the Brandt's bat tends to be larger in size. Two of the main differentiators between the Brandt's bat and the Whiskered bat are the club-shaped penis tip found on the Brandt's bat and the size and shape of several of their teeth. Brandt's bat juveniles are dark grey from birth until approximately 12 months of age.
Echolocation is 35-80kHz. Heard best at 45kHz
Distribution
Widespread across the north of England, the west of England and Wales but rare elsewhere. It has been found in southern Scotland but its status there is unconfirmed.
Habitat
Woodland habitats especially where water is present. Summer roosts are often in roofs, tree hollows and provided bat boxes. The Brandt's bat hibernates between Oct and March and its winter hibernation sites tend to be underground structures such as caves, tunnels, mines and where accessible, cellars. It is also currently believed that an alternative yet unknown winter hibernation site is also used by the Brandt's bat due to the number of Brandt's bats found hibernating in any of the aforesaid location types.
Diet
Moths, small insects and spiders
Behaviour
Brant's bats emerge within half an hour of sunset and probably remain active throughout the night. They have a rapid and skillful flight, at a meduium height and more often than not in woodland. Colonies of whiskered and Brant's bats may us different parts of the same roof space and may occur with pipistrelles or long eared bats.
Predators
All though not directly at threat from a predator, Brandt's bats are vulnerable to woodland decline and intensive agricultural practices, especially where pesticides are used. Disturbance of their winter hibernation sites is also considered a risk.
Reproduction
Although mating tends to occur in autumn, fertilisation does not occur until the following spring. Around May the females will gather into maternity colonies numbering between 20 and 60 bats. The young are born during June/July and are capable of flight by three weeks of age and able to forage for food itself at approx 6 weeks. Some females reach maturity at 3 months of age but most do not mate until their second autumn.
Status
The Brandt's bat is not considered threatened. 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?
Although discovered in 1958 the Brandt's bat was believed to be the Whiskered bat until 1970.