Lesser Horseshoe Bat

Facts
Scientific Name: 
Rhinolophus hipposideros
Weight : 
5 - 9g
Life Span: 
The maximum recorded age was 21 years.
Information
Description : 

Fluffy soft fur that is brownish on the back and grey/white on the underside. Called the Lesser Horseshoe bat due to its horseshoe shaped nose leaf, which is the horseshoe shaped piece of skin you can see around its nostrils and as the name implies, it is also the smaller of the two horseshoe bats found in the UK. The Lesser Horseshoe bat flies usually below 5 meters and can be seen performing its fast and agile flight pattern around bushes and shrubs. Juveniles usually have dark grey hair, which is longer than the adults and while roosting the Lesser Horseshoe bat will wrap its wings around its body.

Distribution : 

Although previously found in the midlands, north and south east of England, it is now restricted to the south west of England and Wales.

Habitat : 

Open grassland and partially wooded areas. The Lesser Horseshoe bat will roost in attics, barns, stables and caves during the summer period and will hibernate in caves, tunnels, mines and cellars between September and May.

Predators : 

Although not a direct result of a predator, the decline in the population of the Lesser Horseshoe bat is due to the disturbance and destruction of roost sites, as well as the reduction in their prey's availability due to the use of insecticides.

Reproduction : 

Mating occurs during autumn with fertilisation taking place the following spring. The females will give birth in mixed-sex maternity colonies during June/July when one offspring, called a pup, is born. The pup will be independent within about six to seven weeks and will leave the nursery during August/October.

Status : 

Listed as Vulnerable on the 2000 IUCN Red List and part of the National Bat Monitoring programme. They are also included within the UK Biodiversity Action Plans and a number of the Lesser Horseshoe bats roosting sites are also classified as being Sites of Special Scientific Interest, with four of them also being classified as potential Special Areas of Conservation. 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 Rhinolophus comes from the Greek word for nose crest and the word hipposideros comes from the Greek word for horse-iron/horseshoe.

Droppings Images :