Barbastella

( Western ) Barbastelle ( Barbastella barbastellus )

The barbastelle ( Barbastella ) is a bat species from the family of Myotis bats ( Vespertilionidae ). The genus includes two species that are widespread in Eurasia and the Mediterranean region, the best known being the ( Western ) Barbastelle ( Barbastella barbastellus ).

Barbastelle owe their name to the particular face shape: The nostrils open upward, the strikingly curved ears are short, wide and joined at the base. The long, soft fur is dark brown or black, the underside is lighter. These bats can reach a body length 43-60 mm, a tail length of 40 to 55 mm and a weight of 6 to 13 grams.

Like most bats, they are nocturnal, they sleep during the day in trees, in crevices in the bark or in buildings. To hibernate they retreat in caves, sometimes they migrate to warmer areas. Your flight is described as slow and fluttery. Barbastelle feed on insects such as beetles, moths and mosquitoes.

There are two types:

• The ( Western ) Barbastelle ( Barbastella barbastellus ) is widespread in Europe and in the Mediterranean.
• The Eastern Barbastelle ( Barbastella Leucomelas ) is spread from Southwest Asia to Japan and Indochina.