Greater horseshoe bat
27 December 2010
The greater horseshoe bat is one of Britain’s largest and rarest species of bat, characterised by its horseshoe shaped nose-leaf. Numbers have declined dramatically throughout the last century due to a combination of loss of roosts, habitat fragmentation, habitat loss and pesticide and herbicide use.
Greater horseshoe bat © Michael Hammett
Latin name: Rhinolophus ferrumequinum
Population numbers:
No accurate figures exist although it is estimated that there are approximately 6,500 individuals in England and Wales.
Where to see and when:
This species’ current range covers the south-west of England, south and west Wales, though the population is very fragmented. The bats hibernate during October-March, depending on weather conditions, and they are nocturnal throughout the active season. In summer, they can be seen foraging within 3-4 kilometres of their roosts, hunting for large moths, dung beetles and cockchafers along hedgerows, woodland edges and over permanent pasture.
What’s being done:
Most important roosts are well-protected, so recent conservation efforts have focussed on improving the management of woodland, wood pasture, pasture and hedgerow connectivity within 4 kilometres of roost sites. The National Bat Monitoring Programme continues to monitor the species across its range.
More information:
Arkive
- images of life on earth
-
Native plants, fungi and animals we featured each week for the 2010 International Year of Biodiversity.
