Japanese Greater Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus nippon) lives in temperate forests across East Asia. It feeds on insects and moths. Its conservation status is Least Concern.
Fascinating facts about the Japanese Greater Horseshoe Bat
- When the seasons change, individuals pack their tiny bodies and trek up to 30 km between winter caves and summer barns, yet one bold explorer was clocked at a staggering 180 km (110 mi) journey. Such long-range moves are rare for a creature that usually flutters just a few metres above the ground.
- Moths dominate its menu, making up about 41 % of every bite, especially the noctuid family that buzzes at night. Beetles follow close behind at roughly 33 % of the diet, with dung beetles and cockchafers being frequent catches. it scoops up beetles that crawl on the ground, even drinking while hovering.
- In Britain the bat teeters on the brink: it has vanished from more than half its historic range and only about 1 % of the original population remains. Today there are just 35 recognised maternity and all-year roosts and 369 winter hibernation sites, supporting an estimated 4 000-6 600 individuals. Such tiny numbers make every lost roost a critical blow, because the species relies on a network of barns, caves and old mines for breeding and hibernation. Protecting those few remaining sites and restoring hedgerows.
- Its sonar clicks pulse at ultra-high pitches, between 69 kHz and 83 kHz, with the loudest bite of energy at 81 kHz and each call lasting just 37.4 ms.
- At full size this bat stretches a wingspan of 350-400 mm (14-16 in), measures 57-71 mm (2.2-2.8 in) from head to tail, and can tip the scales at 30 g (1.1 oz).
Sources
Every fact above was checked against these pages, and kept only where one of them states it.
At a glance
RangeEast Asia
HabitatTemperate forests
DietInsects and moths
About the Japanese Greater Horseshoe Bat
In the misty valleys of Japan, the Japanese greater horseshoe bat unfurls its leathery wings, a dark silhouette against the moonlit sky, as it embarks on its nocturnal quest for insects. With a delicate flutter, it navigates the dense foliage, its large ears twitching with an acute sensitivity, guiding it through the darkness with an uncanny precision. As it flits and weaves, its distinctive horseshoe-shaped noseleaf glistens with dew, a testament to its remarkable adaptability in this lush, oriental landscape.
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