Particoloured Bat (Vespertilio murinus) lives in temperate forests across Europe and Asia. It feeds on insects and flies. Its conservation status is Least Concern.
Fascinating facts about the Particoloured Bat
- A bat that sings like a bird, the parti-coloured's twittering call fills autumn evenings as mates gather. Measuring just 4.8-6.4 cm long with a 26-33 cm wingspan, it weighs only 11-24 g, yet its two-tone fur, dark back with frosted silver, makes it stand out in night skies. This vocal cue helps researchers locate a species that otherwise hides in plain sight.
- When dusk drops, these bats swoop 20-40 m above water or streets, hunting mosquitoes, caddis flies and moths with ultrasonic clicks centered at 25-27 kHz. Their narrow wings let them glide like miniature aircraft, catching insects over lakes and forests. Understanding this hunting altitude guides conservationists in preserving open water corridors they rely on.
- Parti-coloured bats travel farther than many of their kin, with recorded migrations up to 900 km and a longest measured trek of 1,780 km across Eurasia. Such long-distance moves link distant habitats, meaning habitat loss in one region can ripple across the whole migratory route, underscoring the need for international protection.
- Females gather in maternity roosts of about 50, sometimes several hundred, and typically give birth to twins in early June across western Europe. The pups are weaned in under six weeks, after which mothers abandon the roost. This rapid early life cycle shows how crucial safe summer roost sites are for sustaining local populations.
Sources
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At a glance
RangeEurope and Asia
HabitatTemperate forests
DietInsects and flies
About the Particoloured Bat
In the crepuscular hush, the Particoloured Bat stirs, its tawny and dark hues blending seamlessly with the fading light as it takes to the skies, its agile form weaving an intricate dance among the trees. With a flutter of its delicate wings, it pursues the evening's insects, its large eyes drinking in the faint glow of dusk as it navigates the twilight realm with effortless ease. As it flits and darts, its very presence seems a whispered secret, a fleeting glimpse into a world that thrives in the shadows.
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