The greater mouse-eared bat (Myotis myotis ) is a European species of bat in the family Vespertilionidae.
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NocturnalNocturnality is an animal behavior characterized by being active during the night and sleeping during the day. The common adjective is "nocturnal",...
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CarnivoreA carnivore meaning 'meat eater' is an organism that derives its energy and nutrient requirements from a diet consisting mainly or exclusively of a...
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InsectivoresAn insectivore is a carnivorous plant or animal that eats insects. An alternative term is entomophage, which also refers to the human practice of e...
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ArborealArboreal locomotion is the locomotion of animals in trees. In habitats in which trees are present, animals have evolved to move in them. Some anima...
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TerrestrialTerrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land (e.g., cats, ants, snails), as compared with aquatic animals, which liv...
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PredatorPredators are animals that kill and eat other organisms, their prey. Predators may actively search for or pursue prey or wait for it, often conceal...
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AltricialAltricial animals are those species whose newly hatched or born young are relatively immobile. They lack hair or down, are not able to obtain food ...
Among animals, viviparity is the development of the embryo inside the body of the parent. The term 'viviparity' and its adjective form 'viviparous'...
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ColonialColonial animals live in large aggregations composed of two or more conspecific individuals in close association with or connected to, one another....
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MigratingAnimal migration is the relatively long-distance movement of individual animals, usually on a seasonal basis. It is the most common form of migrati...
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HibernatingHibernation is a state of minimal activity and metabolic depression undergone by some animal species. Hibernation is a seasonal heterothermy charac...
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Harbingers Of MisfortuneThe Greater mouse-eared bat is a large European bat with a long, broad muzzle and big, long ears. Its body's dorsal side is brown to reddish-brown, while the ventral side is dirty white, or beige. The tragus forms half of the ear, with a small black tip in most individuals. Wing membranes are brownish in color. Females of this species are slightly larger than males.
Greater mouse-eared bats can be found in most European countries except Denmark, Latvia, Estonia, Finland, and the Scandinavian Peninsula. They are also found on many Mediterranean islands, such as Sicily, Malta, and the Gymnesian Islands. In the Middle East, these bats occur in Turkey, Israel, Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon. They typically forage in open deciduous woodlands, forest edges, and pastures. Roosting sites are located underground throughout the year where the bats also hibernate, In Northern Europe, they may also roost in attics and lofts of buildings.
Greater mouse-eared bats are highly social creatures and on Mediterranean islands such as Mallorca, their colonies usually have up to 500 individuals. In continental Europe, they may form colonies of over 4.500 bats. Greater mouse-eared bats may also roost with other bats, such as long-fingered bats and Common bent-wing bats. Like its relatives, the Greater mouse-eared bat is a nocturnal forager; however, unlike many bats, it does not capture its prey by using echolocation in flight. Instead, it gleans it from the ground, locating prey passively by listening for the noises produced by insects. As a result, it uses echolocation only for spatial orientation, even if it emits ultrasound calls when approaching prey. In mainland Europe, Greater mouse-eared bats may perform annual dispersions of up to 200 km in spring, however, usually, they travel only 10 km or so.
Greater mouse-eared bats are carnivores (insectivores) feeding on various arthropods such as carabid beetles, centipedes, and spiders.
Greater mouse-eared bats breed in autumn and females give birth from May to June. Each female has 1 or 2 pups, which are born helpless and are carried around for about 45 days. During this period, females form nursery colonies from which males are excluded. Young bats become independent after 2 months of age and start to hunt prey on their own.
Great mouse-eared bats suffer from the loss of roosting sites in underground habitats and poisoning by pesticides while foraging in cultivated areas.
The IUCN Red List and other sources don’t provide the number of the Greater mouse-eared bat total population size. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List and its numbers today are stable.
Social animals are those animals that interact highly with other animals, usually of their own species (conspecifics), to the point of having a rec...