242.

Brown Long-eared Bat

Plecotus auritus

French: Oreillard roux / German: Braunes Langohr / Spanish: Orejudo dorado

Other common names: Brown Big-eared Bat, Common Long-eared Bat

Taxonomy. Vespertilio auritus Linnaeus, 1758,

“Europa.”

Two subspecies are recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution. P.a.auritusLinnaeus,1758—mostofEurope,includingBritishIs,NIberianPeninsula,Sardinia,SScandinavia,SFinland,RussiaEtoUrals,andCaucasus.

P. a. begognae de Paz, 1994 — C & SW Iberian Peninsula.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 39-46 mm, tail 39-49 mm, ear 29-35 mm, hindfoot 7-9 mm, forearm 35-5-42- 8 mm; weight 6-9 g. Race begognae is slightly larger than nominate. Dorsal fur is brownish reddish, long, and woolly, while ventral fur is shorter and ranges from yellowish to cream. In contrast with the Gray Long-eared Bat ( P. austriacus), face is usually pale brown or cream. Ears and tragus ofsimilar color to face. Wings broad. Thumbs, claws, and feet generally large, and covered by relatively long hairs. The diagnostic character to separate this species from other sympatric congenersis the thumb (over 6: 5 mm), which is strongly curved, as in the Alpine Long-eared Bat ( P. macrobullaris), from which it differs in its banana-shaped (not triangular) chin. Dental formula is I 2/3, C1/1,P2/3,M 3/3 (x2) = 36. Chromosomal complement has 2n = 32 and FNa = 50.

Habitat. Forages in different habitats, from deciduous and coniferous forests, especially in north, to open areas and agricultural land in south, but also at urban areas, parks, gardens, hedgerows or forest edges. Recorded in pine, beech and oak forests from almost sea level up to over 2000 m. Sometimes claimed to avoid open areas.

Food and Feeding. Feeds mainly on Lepidoptera (moths such as noctuids), but also Diptera, Orthoptera, and non-volant arthropods such as centipedes, spiders, harvestmen, earwigs, and caterpillars. Forages by aerial-hawking and gleaning; positively selects woodlands and hedgerows as foraging sites, and regularly returns to samesites. Large prey items are carried back to a perch in nearby vegetation to be consumed. Usually forages close to vegetation or ground, as attracted by fluttering sounds of moths and can locate prey by passive listening and vision, but hunting is most successful when auditory, echolocation, and visual cues are all available.

Breeding. Maternity colonies harbor some tens of females (5-50), rarely over 100. These colonies have been reported in old buildings, attics, churches, channels, underground sites such as caves or mines, and sometimes also bat boxes, and are relatively stable through the whole summer. In contrast, nursery colonies in tree holes and hollow trees tend to switch roosts every 1-5 days within a 100 m habitat buffer. Females give birth in late June to 1-2 young, which become volant in only six weeks. Young become sexually active in the first or second year.

Activity patterns. Tends to emerge later than other common species, usually around one hour after sunset; remains foraging throughout night. Flight is slow and highly maneuverable. Recorded roosting during summer and spring in both trees and buildings, always in warm roosts (in Britain at ¢.17-9°C). In winter,it roosts alone or in small clusters in caves, mines, cellars, wood piles, buildings, bunkers, rock crevices, and also in deep cavities in hollow trees, always selecting spaces at temperatures of 3—7°C. It has typical long-eared bat echolocation type, with FM pulses, usually with two very evident harmonics, the first with frequency of maximum energy at 25-30 kHz, and the other at 50-60 kHz. This species can emit echolocation pulses through the mouth or through the nose, but these are always very faint and difficult to record.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Maximum distance of movement reported for this species is ¢. 90 km, in Germany; although it shifts roosts seasonally, it is thought to be fairly sedentary. Foraging areas are usually not far from the roost (under 2-5 km in summer, and up to 3- 3 km in autumn). While females tend to roost together, males are usually found roosting individually. Swarming activity occurs in autumn around caves and mines, and occasionally also in spring.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. Generally widespread and common, especially in Central Europe, with no major threats. However, at the limits of its range (e.g. Mediterranean coast), it can be less abundant or locally rare; apparently decreasing in Turkey. In some of these regions, habitatloss, reduction of mature and pristine forests, and destruction of mature roost trees during timber extraction are significant factors.

Bibliography. Anderson & Racey (1991), Burland, Barratt, Beaumont & Racey (1999), Burland, Barratt, Nichols & Racey (2001), Coles et al. (1989), Dietz & Kiefer (2016), Eklof & Jones (2003), Ekman & de Jong (1996), Entwistle (1999), Entwistle et al. (1996, 1997 2000), de Fanis & Jones (1995), Fernandes (2017), Furmankiewicz & Altringham (2007), Gaisler et al. (2003), Horaéek & Duli¢ (2004), Hutson, Spitzenberger, Aulagnier, Coroiu et al. (2008b), Juste et al. (2004), Kiefer et al. (2002), Koopman (1993), Norberg (1976), Pavlini¢ & Tvrtkovi¢ (2004), Rydell (1989), Schober & Grimmberger (1998), Shiel et al. (1991), Speakman (1987), Spitzenberger et al. (2006), Stebbings (1967), Veith et al. (2004), Webb et al. (1995).