229.

Mediterranean Long-eared Bat

Plecotus kolombatovici

French: Oreillard des Balkans / German: MittelmeerLangohr / Spanish: Orejudo de los Balcanes

Other common names: Balkan Long-eared Bat, Kolombatovic's Long-eared Bat

Taxonomy. Plecotus austriacus kolombatovici Duli¢, 1980,

Korcula Island, Croatia.

Previously considered a race of P. austriacus, but raised to full species status based on genetic and morphological differences. Monotypic.

Distribution. S Balkans along Adriatic coast, Greece, S Turkey, NW Syria, Lebanon; also some Mediterranean Is (Pantelleria [tentatively], Crete, Rhodes and Cyprus); probably also Israel, Palestine, and Jordan.

Descriptive notes. Head—body 42-54 mm,tail 42-48 mm, ear 29-35 mm, forearm 36— 39 mm; weight c. 7 g. Males have shorter forearm (under 38 mm) than females (up to 39 mm). Forearm averages shorter than in the Brown Long-eared Bat ( P. auritus), the Alpine Long-eared Bat ( P. macrobullaris), and the Gray Long-eared Bat ( P. austriacus), but claws are as short as in the last of these. Tibia under 18 mm long. Dorsal fur (11- 12- 5 mm long) is very dense and brownish, drab or sand-colored, with hairs tricolored; ventral fur (7-11 mm) whitish, hairs bicolored, with dark bases and whitish or grayish tips. Pelage covers face and chin almost completely (diagnostic for the species); snout dark and small with small protuberances around mouth, all covered with short hair. Wings almost transparent, weakly pigmented. Unlike congeners, vibrissae absent on feet. Penis rounded or club-shaped, which is also diagnostic from congeners. Skull relatively small, with two well-developed ridges separated by groove on anterior part, as in the Gray Long-eared Bat; rostrum short.

Habitat. Highly adaptable to different habitats, from forest and woodland to open and semi-open areas, such as agricultural fields and shrubland. Has been found over small brackish streams and in organic olive groves, and reported from karstic areas along Mediterranean coast. In Croatia, found from sea level up to 800 m, especially in xerophilous habitats.

Food and Feeding. Feeds mainly on Lepidoptera (moths), Coleoptera (beetles), and Diptera (flies), by gleaning and aerial-hawking. Has been seen foraging in the open, hunting over bushes and forest clearings, in mannersimilar to the Gray Long-eared Bat.

Breeding. Maternity colonies said to range from a few tens to more than a hundred females, roosting in rocky crevices and old buildings. Sometimes in mixed colonies with other species.

Activity patterns. Roosts in caves, cracks in walls, and rock crevices. In Albania, uses bunkers as roost sites all year long, even during breeding season.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Tends to shift roosts in winter; roosts individually or in small clusters of a few bats, in caves, mines, and trees.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. No population estimates exist but the species is widespread and opportunistic in terms of habitat selection. Populations in Europe might be decreasing. Major threats in Europe may include roost disturbance by tourists; also pesticides.

Bibliography. Benda, Kiefer et al. (2004), Davy et al. (2007), Dietz & von Helversen (2004), Dietz & Kiefer (2016), Hutson, Aulagnier, Juste et al. (2008), Juste et al. (2004), Kiefer (2007), Kiefer et al. (2002), Krystufek & Vohralik (2001), Pavlini¢ & Tvrtkovi¢ (2004), Spitzenberger, Haring & Tvrtkovi¢ (2002), Spitzenberger, Pidlek & Haring (2001), Spitzenberger, Strelkov et al. (2006), Théou & Loce (2017), Tvrtkovi¢ et al. (2005).