Myotis alcathoe

The Nymph 's bat ( Myotis alcathoe ) is a species of bat of the genus mouse ears. It was described in 2001 on the basis of genetic analysis and morphological characteristics as a separate species. The nymph bat was first detected in Greece and Hungary by a research group led by Professor Otto von Helversen. Both their scientific and their German name comes from Greek mythology. The nymph alcathoe, daughter of Minyas, was together with her sisters in bats transforms of Dionysus as a punishment for their boycott of a held in honor of Dionysus festival. Professor Helversen chose this name because the species was found in an area through remote canyons and riparian woody plant similar to the one in which the tragedy is said to have taken place.

The first evidence of its kind in Switzerland succeeded in 2002 by catches from a cave in the Vaud Jura at an altitude of 1,500 m above sea level. M. In France and Germany, this species was observed.

Features

The nymph bat is very similar to the Brandt's bat ( Myotis brandtii ) and the whiskered bat ( Myotis mystacinus ). However, it is slightly smaller than the two whiskered bat species and differs somewhat in the dentition of them. Furthermore, the frequency of their ultrasonic locating calls is higher than in all other species of its genus.

Habitat

The nymph bat preferably natural, through which flows water areas with mature mixed forest inventory, as you can find them in valleys or Alluvialwäldern ( swamp forests with tall trees ).

Dissemination

The species has been detected in Europe in Albania, Bulgaria, Germany, Sweden, France, Greece, Poland, Switzerland, Slovakia, Spain, Hungary, Great Britain and Turkey. The northernmost German find was made in Kyffhaeuser Mountains.

Threat

Since it is in the nymph bat is a relatively new and proven way of its distribution is only known very little, yet no classification is defined in a category of threat in Switzerland. However, one can assume that the nymph bat has been confused with the whiskered bats, and since these are classified as endangered, at least this is true for the nymph bat. In particular, the function of mature trees poses a problem