British Bats
Lesser Horseshoe Bat Rhinolophus hipposideros
| BAT STATS Head-Body Length- 4.3-5.5cm Weight- 4-10g Wingspan- 19-23cm Tail Length- 2-3cm |
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DESCRIPTION- Like the Greater Horseshoe Bat, the Lesser Horseshoe Bat is also a member of the Phinolophidae family. It possesses the horseshoe shaped nose leaf and pointed ears without a tragus, which are characteristic of this family. The Lesser Horseshoe Bat is the smallest European Horseshoe bat, being only about the size of a man's thumb. The soft fluffy fur is brown on the back, while the underparts are a greyish-white. The legs are long and slender. The wings are broad and rounded giving it a slow manoeuvrable flight, although it has a faster wing beat than the Greater Horseshoe Bat. Juveniles can be recognised because their fur is grey rather than the adult brown.
DISTRIBUTION- The Lesser Horseshoe Bat is endangered in Britain. However it is the commonest of the Rhinolophidae species found in Europe. It is most abundant around the Mediterranean and has a widespread distribution throughout much of Europe. To the north its distribution is increasingly patchy and it is restricted to warm valley and less exposed locations. In Britain it is mostly found in western England, Wales and Ireland.
HABITATS- The Lesser Horseshoe Bat forages low over parkland, open grassland and woodland edges. It can be found at altitudes of up to 2000m. Originally it roosted in caves, but it now uses a variety of man made structures, such as mines, tunnels, cellars, and lofts. Its small size gives it access to roosting sites larger bats are unable to reach. While hibernating it uses cool caves and hibernates solitarily.
BREEDING- Mating occurs during the autumn and winter. Nursery roosts with 10-500 females are established in April. A single young weighing 1.8 grams is born in June or July. It is weaned at 4 weeks of age and is independent at 7 weeks.
BEHAVIOUR- The Lesser Horseshoe Bat's main prey are small insects which it catches using high frequency echolocation calls and its manoeuvrable flight. It often hunts near or over water, rarely at heights greater than 6 metres. It spends more time foraging than the Greater Horseshoe Bat, emerging about 20 minutes after sunset. It has a distinctive erratic flight pattern. During hibernation it hangs freely from the cave roof and wraps its body in its wings. Hibernation lasts from October until May.