Rhinolophus euryale
Mediterranean horseshoe bat

Mediterranean horseshoe bats occur mostly in Europe, including the Balkans and Mediterranean region. They are also found on the islands of Sicily, Sardinia, and Corsica. The northern most range includes Slovakia, northern Italy and southern France. They have also been reported in northern Africa. (Russo, Jones, and Migliozzi, 2002)

Mediterranean horseshoe bats inhabit warm, forested regions in foothills and mountains. They favor karst formations with numerous caves located near water sources. They also favor broadleaved woodlands and olive groves. They spend summers roosting in caves and underground shelters. In more northern regions, warm attics are used. (Russo, Jones, and Migliozzi, 2002)

Mediterranean horseshoe bats are medium-sized, weighing betwen 8 and 17.5 g. Total length of these animals is 65 to 88 mm, and wingspan is between 300 and 320 mm. Females are often larger than males. (Schober and Grimmberger, 1997)

The horseshoe and lips of the bat are light brown, and the ears and wing membranes are light gray. The fur of this bat is sparse, becoming light gray toward the base. The back is a gray-brown, with a light reddish or pinkish tint. The underside is gray-white to a yellowish-white. The boundary between dorsal and ventral color is indistinct. Darker hairs may be present around the eyes. (Schober and Grimmberger, 1997)

The wings of the bat are broad (suggesting life in the forest), with the second phalanx of the fourth finger having more than twice the length of the first. When at rest, the third to fifth fingers are bent 180º at the joint between the first and second phalanges. Because of this, these bats cannot be completely wrapped by their wing membranes. (Schober and Grimmberger, 1997)

The species is nasal emitting, with an upper saddle process pointed and slightly curved downward. The lower saddle process is rounded when viewed from below, and is noticably shorter than the upper saddle process. (Schober and Grimmberger, 1997)

The lifespan of Mediterranean horseshoe bats is unknown. It is difficult to speculate on what the lifespan may be, as there is great variability within the genus. Some species on the Malay penninsula are reported to live for only about 6 or 7 years. However, one individual of the species Rhinolophus ferrumequinum in France was reported to have lived in excess of 27 years. (Nowak, 1999; Schober and Grimmberger, 1997)

Mediterranean horseshoe bats often roost together with other bat species including other horseshoe bats. Winter roosts are located in caves and tunnels with an approximate temperature of 10ºC. These bats hang freely from the ceiling, but, unlike many bats, their wings do not completely cover the body due to the anatomy of the wing. They are often in contact with other individuals. These bats are usually permanent residents, however they may migrate up to 134 km. (Altringham, 1996; Schober and Grimmberger, 1997)

It has been noted that some members of the family may go into a state of torpor as an adaption to low temperatures. Some members of the genus Rhinolophus hibernate. However, it is not known for certain whether R. euryale undergoes such torpor or hibernation. (Altringham, 1996; Schober and Grimmberger, 1997)

Most bats in the genus Rhinolophus are solitary foragers. The bats are typically nocturnal, and use echolocation to find prey items. (Nowak, 1999)

Home Range

Th size of the home range of these animals has not been reported.

All members of the family Rhinolophidae emit FM-CF-FM echolocation calls. The bat produces high frequency, highly directional calls in the range of 101 to 108 kHz, this high frequency cannot be heard by tympanate moths, one of their favorite foods. The calls last approximately 20 to 30 ms. However, it should be stressed that this echolocation is used for foraging, not for communicating with conspecifics. (Russo, Jones, and Mucedda, 2001)

Because these bats are nocturnal and roost in dark caves, it is unlikely that they use a lot of visual signals in their communications with conspecifics. Other members of the genus are reported to use some vocal communication, Because these bats come into frequent contact with one another in roosts, it is likely that there is some tactile communication. Communcation through scent has not been documented, but may occur, as these are mammals. (Nowak, 1999)

Mediterranean horseshoe bats emerge in late twilight to feed on moths and other insects. They hunt at low altitudes on warm slopes and in relatively dense stands of trees or shrubs. The flight of the bat is slow and agile, and they have the ability to hover. (Schober and Grimmberger, 1997)

All members of the family Rhinolophidae use echolocation to find prey items. They are known to emit FM-CF-FM echolocation calls. These bats produce high frequency, highly directional calls in the range of 101 to 108 kHz, a frequency beyond the ability of tympanate moths to detect. The calls last approximately 20 to 30 ms. (Schober and Grimmberger, 1997)

No information on predation is available

Mediterranean horseshoe bats consume large quantities of moths and other insects. They therefore affect insect communities negatively, but probably have an indirect positive effect on plant communities, by eliminating some herbivorous insects. (Russo, Jones, and Mucedda, 2001)

There are no known adverse affects of Mediterranean horseshoe bats on humans.

Mediterranean horseshoe bats provide insect control within the ecosystem. (Schober and Grimmberger, 1997)

Rhinolophus euryale is the rarest of all European rhinolophids, and is classified as "Vulnerable" in the IUCN Red List. Data are scarce on population estimates, however, it is known there was a 70% decline in numbers in France between 1940 and 1980. There was also a serious population decrease in Slovakia. Because of the use of pesticides by humans, many species of insectivorous bats have suffered, and the timing of decline in this species corresponds to the increased use of pesticides after World War II. (Nowak, 1999; Russo, Jones, and Migliozzi, 2002)

Rhinolophus euryale seems particularly sensitive to human disturbance, and because it mainly roosts in underground shelters, including caves, protection of such sites is a key conservation strategy. (Russo, Jones, and Migliozzi, 2002)

Incidents of albinism have been recorded. (Schober and Grimmberger, 1997)