Wednesday, 15 February 2012
Nathusius Pipistrelle
Scientific Name:
Pipistrellus nathusii
Weight:
6-15.5g
Lifespan:
The maximum recorded age was 16 years, although they are more commonly known to live for only 7 years. Description
During the summer the Nathusius bat has a reddish brown fur on its back, however, this back fur will moult to a dark brown colour for the winter period. The back fur can also have grey tips to it but this is not always the case and fur without grey tips does occur. On the underside the fur remains a yellowish brown throughout the entire year. The Nathusius bat has short triangular shaped ears and its ears, tail and wing membranes are all a blackish brown colour.
Distribution
In the UK the Nathusius bat occurs in South England and Northern Ireland.
Habitat
Woodlands, parks and occasionally areas of human habitation. The Nathusius's bat can often be found near banks and watercourses and will roost in provided bat boxes, hollow trees and occasionally buildings during summer. During the winter period the Nathusius bat will hibernate in walls, hollow trees, caves and cliff crevices.
Predators
Although not a direct threat from a predator, Nathusius bats are vulnerable to the loss of roost sites and any change/loss of habitat that results in the reduction in the availability of its prey. Pesticides are also a threat to the Nathusius bat due to not only the detrimental impact they can have on its insect prey population but also due to the potential contamination of prey with fatal toxins.
Reproduction
Mating occurs during autumn with fertilisation taking place the following spring. During the mating period a single male will pair with between 3 and 10 females which it will defend from other male bats. The females will form maternity roosts of between 50 and 200 females during the April/May period and two offspring, known as pups, will be born during July. The pups are capable of flight by about 4 weeks of age and are weaned by around 8 weeks.
Status
Not listed as 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?
The Nathusius bat was not known to breed in the UK until as late as 1997 and there are now known breeding colonies in both Lincolnshire and Northern Ireland.