The Lesser horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus hipposideros) is a small insectivorous bat found in Europe, Asia, and North Africa. It is closely related to its larger cousin, the Greater horseshoe bat. As with all horseshoe bats, the species gets its name from its distinctive horseshoe-shaped noseleaf.
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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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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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ViviparousAmong 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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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 ...
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Generally solitaryGenerally solitary animals are those animals that spend their time separately but will gather at foraging areas or sleep in the same location or sh...
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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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Not a migrantAnimals that do not make seasonal movements and stay in their native home ranges all year round are called not migrants or residents.
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starts withThe Lesser horseshoe bat is one of the world's smallest bats. It has strong feet that it uses to grasp rocks and branches and can see well despite its small eyes. The base of its fur, which is soft and fluffy, is light grey in color, with dorsal side fur smoky brown and the ventral side grey, except for juvenile bats which are entirely dark grey. Ears and wing membranes are a light greyish brown.
Lesser horseshoe bats occur in western Ireland and southwest Britain, with some larger populations in parts of Germany and the Bavarian foothills of the Alps. They are widespread in the Mediterranean area, occurring in North Africa and on most larger islands to Asia Minor and around the Black Sea. In Asia, they can be found in Kashmir, the Near East, Iran, Iraq, and the Arabian Peninsula, as well as part of East Africa. Lesser horseshoe bats live in warmer regions in foothills and highlands, in particular wooded areas or areas of limestone, where they roost in caves. These bats don't migrate but travel between their summer and winter roosts which are typically located between 5 and 10 kilometers (3-6 miles).
Lesser horseshoe bats are nocturnal and usually hunt near water and damp wooded areas using echolocation (emitting ultrasound from specialized round pads in their mouth). When hunting they are quick and agile, often flying within 5 meters (16.4 ft) of the ground while avoiding contact with bushes and shrubs. They catch prey on the wing or glean insects from stones and branches. Lesser horseshoe bats are generally solitary creatures. In their roosts, they prefer to hang singly and will gather in clusters only when the temperature gets low or during the breeding season when females form nursery colonies. Lesser horseshoe bats spend cold winter months hibernating in dark caves, tunnels, old buildings, cellars, burrows, and mines.
Lesser horseshoe bats are carnivores (insectivores). Their favorite types of prey include flies, mosquitoes, butterflies, small moths, and spiders.
The mating season of Lesser horseshoe bats takes place in the autumn. The move to nurseries occurs from April onwards, with between 10 and 100 females and between 2 and 20 males. Nurseries are often shared with other species, such as the Greater mouse-eared bat. Female Lesser horseshoe bats give birth to one pup, normally between mid-June and the beginning of July. Pups weigh around 1.8 grams at birth, opening their eyes after around 10 days; they become independent at 6 to 7 weeks of age. Young females become reproductively mature within their first year of age.
The main threats to Lesser horseshoe bats include the use of pesticides, habitat loss and fragmentation, and human disturbances during hibernation and breeding period.
The IUCN Red List and other sources don’t provide the number of the Lesser horseshoe bat total population size. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List, but its numbers today are decreasing.
Lesser horseshoe bats play a very important role in their native ecosystem by preying on large amounts of insects and controlling their populations.
