Greater mouse-eared bat
Greater mouse- eared bat (Myotis myotis)
The greater mouse-eared or just mouse-eared bat (Myotis myotis) is a bat species from the genus mouse ears, which was described in 1797 by Borkhausen first time. They are also found under the name of giant bat. A similar type is the Lesser Mouse-eared Bat (Myotis blythii ). The greater mouse-eared was chosen by the Association of German caves and karst researchers to cave animal of the year 2011.
Description
The Great Mouse ear, with a head-body length of 6.7 to 7.9 inches and a wingspan of 35-43 centimeters, the largest bat species in Germany and Austria. An adult specimen weighs 28-40 grams. The greater mouse-eared has a very short and broad snout, the ears are long and wide. The coat is short but dense and dark brown hair at the roots, dyed rather light brown gray at the top. The underside is white gray. The muzzle, ears and wings are gray-brown.
Distribution area, habitat and behavior
The greater mouse-eared is widespread in the Central, Southern, Southeastern and Western European continent. It also lives in North Africa. The eastern boundary of the range is in Asia Minor and Israel, the northern winter quarters can be found on complaints and on the Polish Baltic coast. The animals were observed also in the Azores. In Britain the species is extinct, in Schleswig -Holstein and Sweden rarely isolated animals were sighted.
The habitat of the greater mouse- ear consists mainly in open areas, such as meadows, fields and open woodlands, but also in human settlements. In summer the animals like to sleep in attics and steeples, and under bridges. Colonies can consist of up to 2,000 females, the males are solitary. They sleep in trusses, tree cavities or nest boxes. Is winter in caves and cellars, which can not yet be as much predicated here. Thus, in Baden- Württemberg far more mouse ears are recorded in the summer months than in counts in winter quarters. The largest winter quarters in Germany is located in an old brewery in Frankfurt ( Oder), where / 2006 800 Great mouse ears, among a total of 1,707 bats were counted in winter 2005.
In a year, each female gets usually only one cub, whose weight is about 6 grams. The gestation period is approximately 60 days ( depending on diet 50 to 70 days). When foraging animals like flying around in mid- flight height between trees. Here, the animals may remove up to ten kilometers from the roost. To capture prey, to mouse ears also move nimbly crawling on the floor.
On the menu moths and large beetles, especially beetles. The greater mouse-eared relies on passive detection, that is, it stops (without the emission of ultrasound) to the natural sounds of prey.
Conservation
The greater mouse-eared is strictly protected under the federal Species Protection Regulation and is one of seven species of bats in Germany, which can be found in Annex II of the Habitats Directive. The IUCN classifies the greater mouse-eared as " not at risk " one ( least concern ).