Lesser Horseshoe Bat

Maximum longevity: 21.2 years (wild)

Lesser horseshoe bats are the smallest of the European horseshoe bats, approximately the size of a person’s thumb. They are slightly smaller than their close relative, greater horseshoe bats, Rhinolophus ferrumequinum, weighing only 5-9 grams. They have a wingspan of 192 to 254 mm. Their body length is usually 35 to 45 mm and tail length is 23 to 33 mm. Like all other bats in the family Rhinolophidae, lesser horseshoe bats have leaf-like projections on their noses that aid in echolocation, and the species takes its name from their horseshoe-shaped nose. They have pointed ears without a tragus. Their legs are long and slender with strong feet to help hold onto branches and cave walls. The fur is brown on the back, while the underside is a whitish gray color. The wings, relatively broad and somewhat rounded, allow maneuverability while flying in dense vegetation. The ears and wing membranes are a grayish brown color and, when roosting, these bats wrap themselves completely inside their wings. Young lesser horseshoe bats are quite distinctive from adults because all of the fur on their body is gray.

Range mass: 5 to 9 g.

Range length: 35 to 45 mm.

Range wingspan: 192 to 254 mm.

Other Physical Features: endothermic ; heterothermic ; bilateral symmetry

Sexual Dimorphism: sexes alike

Not much information has been recorded about the lifespans of these animals in the wild or in captivity. In the wild, the average lifespan is about 3 to 4 years. The maximum age recorded in captivity is 21 years.

Range lifespan
Status: captivity: 21 (high) years.

Typical lifespan
Status: wild: 3 to 4 years.

Lesser horseshoe bats prefer shrubland, valleys, and open grassland and woodland edges. They naturally roost in caves, but with the spread of the human population into their habitats, they have found homes in man-made structures, including roofs, tunnels, attics, and cellars. Because of their small size, they have an advantage over larger bats for access to small crevices and openings as roosting sites. In the summer, lesser horseshoe bats of the north roost in warm attics or heated basements. In the south, they roost in caves and tunnels. Lesser horseshoe bats hibernate from October until late April or early May, most often in caves, tunnels, and cellars. Roosting individuals prefer to hang in close proximity to others when hibernating. Summer and winter roosts are usually no more than 5-10 km apart.

Range elevation: 1160 to 2000 m.

Habitat Regions: temperate ; terrestrial

Terrestrial Biomes: savanna or grassland ; forest

Other Habitat Features: urban ; suburban ; caves

The distribution of lesser horseshoe bats, Rhinolophus hipposideros, ranges from the western part of Europe to central Asia and from central Europe down to the northern part of Africa. Although they are widespread throughout their range, they are a rare species, and populations have declined in the northern parts of the range. They have become extinct in the southeastern part of Britain, and in Britain are now restricted to southwest England and Wales.

Biogeographic Regions: palearctic (Native ); ethiopian (Native )

Lesser horseshoe bats prey mainly on small insects, such as mosquitoes, crane flies, and beetles. They use their high frequency echolocation calls to detect prey. Along with their maneuverable wings, agility, and speed, they are formidable predators in forested areas. Compared to the greater horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus ferrumequinum, the lesser horseshoe bat spends a relatively longer time foraging. They move in a whirling fashion and tend to stay close to the ground, up to 5 m high. They have a fluttering flight, with relatively fast wing beats, and can hover in one spot. Most of the time, they snatch prey in mid-air, but can take up insects from branches, rocks, and bushes.

The main diet of lesser horseshoe bats consists of insects from 23 families and 7 orders (Lepidoptera, Neuroptera, Trichoptera, Hymenoptera, Coleoptera, Diptera, and Hemiptera). During April to September, Lepidoptera, Diptera, and Neuroptera are the main families consumed. They also eat spiders (Arachnida). Lesser horseshoe bats usually hunt near water and damp wooded areas and catch prey by hawking, snatching them from mid-air, grabbing them from branches and rocks, and pouncing on them near the ground.

Animal Foods: insects; terrestrial non-insect arthropods

Primary Diet: carnivore (Insectivore )

Lesser horseshoe bats impact their ecosystem by feeding on large numbers of insects.

Lesser horseshoe bats help reduce insect pest populations.

Positive Impacts: controls pest population

All bats are known to carry the rabies virus. Because bats are losing their habitat to human development and expansion, they are moving closer and closer to human populated areas. Even though accounts of bats transmitting rabies to humans are uncommon, the risk is present and caution must be taken when in contact with these creatures.

Because lesser horseshoe bats occupy many human dwellings when they roost, including cellars and attics, they are sometimes regarded as unwelcome pests. However, preventative measures can be taken to keep these bats from entering houses, such as blocking any crevices or holes in the walls through which these bats may crawl.

Negative Impacts: injures humans (causes disease in humans ); household pest

The IUCN has listed the current conservation status of lesser horseshoe bats as vulnerable, which means that they do not face extinction in the wild at the present time, but may face the risk of becoming vulnerable to extinction in the near future. The major threats to their population are habitat loss due to human disturbance, pollution, and a change in prey dynamics due to human disturbance.

US Federal List: no special status

CITES: no special status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: least concern

Echolocation is the primary means by which these bats capture prey. Calls range from 105 to 111 kHz, ending in a short drop in frequency. The duration is about 20 to 30 ms. The calls of lesser horseshoe bats sound much like a chirp, and overlap in characteristics with other species of bat, specifically Mediterranean horseshoe bats, Rhinolophus euryale, and Mehely’s horseshoe bats, Rhinolophus mehelyi. There are also small differences in frequency within Rhinolophus hipposideros depending on geographic location.

Communication Channels: acoustic ; chemical

Perception Channels: visual ; tactile ; echolocation ; chemical

Lesser horseshoe bats are vulnerable to terrestrial as well as aerial predators. They have a wide variety of avian predators including hawks, owls, and other large birds. On the ground, they are preyed upon by other mammals such as European pine martens (Martes martes), and domestic cats.

Echolocating bats are probably more vunerable to aerial predation than small insectivorous birds because most bats are relatively slow fliers and rely on echolocation rather than on vision.

Known Predators:

• domestic cats (Felis silvestris)
• European pine martens (Martes martes)
• owls (Strigiformes)
• hawks (Accipitridae)
• falcons (Falco)

Anti-predator Adaptations: cryptic

The mating system of lesser horseshoe bats is not well known. They breed in the autumn. There have been observations of courtship, in which a male and female chase each other around before settling down to mate.

Mating System: polygynandrous (promiscuous)

Lesser horseshoe bats reach sexual maturity at about one year old. Mating occurs in the autum, and about one-half to two-thirds of females give birth to one young. The rest give birth to twins. In early April, females and some males (about 20%) form maternity roosts with group sizes ranging from 10 to 100 individuals. These roosts may be shared with bats of other species, including greater mouse-eared bats, Myotis myotis, and Geoffroy’s bats, Myotis emarginatus, but the species do not roost in the same parts of the roost structure. Young are born in mid June to early July and weigh about 1.8 grams. They are covered in fine, gray hairs except on the underside, and have sensitive hairs near the noseleaf. Their eyes open at about 10 days. They are weaned at 4 weeks and become independent at 6 to 7 weeks. Individuals in maternity roosts separate in August.

Breeding interval: Lesser horseshoe bats breed once yearly.

Breeding season: Breeding occurs in autumn.

Range number of offspring: 1 to 2.

Average weaning age: 4 weeks.

Range time to independence: 6 to 7 weeks.

Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female): 1 years.

Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male): 1 years.

Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; seasonal breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; viviparous

Average gestation period: 67 days.

Average number of offspring: 1.

Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male)
Sex: male: 471 days.

Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female)
Sex: female: 500 days.

Little information is available about the parental investment of lesser horseshoe bats. Females do most of the caring of the young and, although maternity roosts may consist of many individuals, females keep to themselves and do not help each other in caring for young. Young bats tend to develop quickly and reach independence soon after weaning.

Parental Investment: pre-fertilization (Provisioning, Protecting: Female); pre-hatching/birth (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Female); pre-weaning/fledging (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Female)

When hunting, this species flies close to the ground, usually below 5 meters around bushes and shrubs (4) with fast, agile flight (4). They glean their prey from stones and branches; favourite prey items include flies, moths and spiders (2). The ultrasound calls tend to be around 110 kHz. This species mates in the autumn, and females give birth to one young between mid-June and the beginning of July (4) in mixed-sex maternity colonies (2). The young become independent at six-seven weeks of age (4). Hibernation occurs between September and May (4).

Twelve sites are designated Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) for this species, four of which are candidate SACs (Special Areas of Conservation), 70 further sites supporting this species occur within existing SSSIs (3). This species is part of the National Bat Monitoring Programme, which aims to establish a long-term monitoring programme and is a priority species under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan. The Species Action Plan aims to encourage the long-term expansion of the current range through natural recolonisation (3).

The lesser horseshoe bat is one of the smallest British bats (2). It has soft fluffy fur, which is brownish on the back and grey-white on the underside (4). At rest, this delicate bat wraps its wings around its body as it hangs upside down (2). Juveniles are dark grey in colour (4). The generic name Rhinolophus derives from the Greek for 'nose crest', and the specific name hipposideros derives from the Greek for 'horse-iron' or horseshoe (5). This name refers to the complex nose-leaf, which is thought to act as an 'acoustic lens', focusing echolocation pulses that are emitted from the nose (6).

Once found roosting only in caves, maternity roosts now occur in old buildings, often in warm attics. Hibernation still tends to take place underground (3) in caves, mines and cellars (4). They feed in sheltered valleys (2), and foothills (4) amongst mixed woodland, and along hedgerows and tree lines (3).

Occurs throughout central and southern Europe but has declined in the north. In Britain it has become extinct in the Midlands and in the south-east (4) and is now restricted to south-west England and Wales (3).

European populations are listed under Appendix II of The Bonn Convention (2), Appendix II of the Bern Convention, and Annexes II and IV of the EC Habitats and Species Directive. In the UK it is protected under Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, and Schedule 2 of the Conservation Regulations 1994 (3).

The decline of this species is due to a number of factors including the disturbance or destruction of roosts, changes in agricultural practices such as the increased use of insecticides, which reduces prey availability (4), and loss of suitable foraging habitat (3).

Localized (South Sinai).

Native, resident.

Animal / parasite / ectoparasite
Nycteribia kolenatii ectoparasitises Rhinolophus hipposideros
Other: minor host/prey

In Great Britain and/or Ireland:
Animal / parasite / ectoparasite
Phthiridium biarticulata ectoparasitises Rhinolophus hipposideros
Other: major host/prey

The lesser horseshoe bat is widely distributed in the western and central Palaearctic from the western part of Europe to central Asia and from central Europe down to the northern part of Africa. It lives in all the European countries (including the islands) of the Mediterranean region. It has become extinct in southeast Britain and the Midlands (10), but is found in southwest England and Wales (9). In North Africa, it is found in Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and the eastern Sinai (to Egypt); it also occurs in eastern Africa and from Anatolia and the countries of the Levant. It occurs from sea level to 2,000 m. It occurs in warmer regions in foothills and highland, especially wooded areas or areas of limestone. It prefers shrubland, valleys and open grassland and woodland edges.In summer it lives up to 1160m above sea level and up to 2000m in the winter, with the highest known nursery roost at 950m. It forms summer roosts (breeding colonies) in natural and artificial underground sites in the south of its range and in attics and buildings in the north. It hibernates in winter in underground sites (including cellars, small caves and burrows). It is sedentary; winter and summer roosts are usually within 5-10 km, the longest distance recorded being 153 km. It is one of the smallest British bats (8), about the size of a person’s thumb. It weighs 4-9 g, has a wingspan of 192–254 mm, a body length of 35–45 mm and a tail length of 23-33 mm. The pointed ears are 12-18 mm long and lack a tragus. The base of the soft fluffy fur is light grey; the fur is brownish on the back and grey-white on the underside (10). The ears and wing membranes are greyish brown. Juveniles are dark grey (10). The ears and wing membranes are a light greyish-brown. "Rhinolophus" derives from the Greek for 'nose crest'; and "hipposideros" from the Greek for 'horse-iron' or horseshoe (11). The name refers to the complex nose-leaf and horseshoe-shaped nose. The leaf-like projections on the nose aid echolocation. The long, slender legs have strong feet to help grasp and hold onto branches, rocks and cave walls. The bat can see well despite its small eyes. The relatively broad, rounded wings allow maneuverability while flying in dense vegetation. The bat lives in colonies. At rest, this delicate bat wraps its wings completely around its body as it hangs upside down (8). It naturally roosts in caves, but makes homes in man-made structures, such as roofs, tunnels, attics and cellars; maternity roosts also occur old buildings, often in warm atics. Due to its small size, the bat has an advantage over larger bats to access small crevices and openings as roosting sites. In summer, the bats of the north roost in warm attics or heated basements. In the south, they roost in caves and tunnels. In Europe, it forms summer colonies of 10-50 (up to 1,500 bats). Maternity roosts may occur in old buildings, often in warm attics. Hibernation still tends to take place underground (9) from September-October until late April or early May, usually in dark caves, mines, old buildings, tunnels, and cellars (10). It is solitary in winter or forms loose aggregations up to 500 animals per roost; the bats prefer to hang in close proximity to others (10). Summer and winter roosts are usually no more than 5-10 km apart. The bat usually forages near water within and along the edges of broadleaf deciduous and mixed woodland, damp wooded areas, shrubland, riparian vegetation and along hedgerows and tree lines (9) feed in sheltered valleys (8) and foothills (10) (9). It preys mainly on small insects, such as mosquitoes, crane flies and beetles. It uses high frequency echolocation calls to detect prey. It emits ultrasound from specialized round pads in the mouth. The complex nose-leaf acts as an 'acoustic lens', focusing echolocation pulses emitted from the nose (6). The frequencies used are from 93–111 kHz, with most energy at 110 kHz and an average duration of 31.7 ms [4,5]. A call ends in a short drop in frequency, lasts @ 20-30 ms and sounds like a chirp. Along with its manoeuverable wings, agility and speed, it is a formidable predator in forested areas. Compared to the greater horseshoe bat, it spends a relatively longer time foraging. It moves in a whirling, fluttering fashion and tends to stay within 5m of the ground, while avoiding contact with bushes and shrubs (10). It is quick and agile (10), with relatively fast wing beats and can hover in one spot. Most of the time, it xatches prey by hawking or snatches prey in mid-air, but it can glean flies (such as midges and craneflies), moths and spiders (8) and other prey from from branches, rocks, and bushes or pounce on them near the ground. The bat is vulnerable to terrestrial and aerial predators, such as hawks, owls, falcons and other birds. Echolocating bats are probably more vunerable to aerial predation than small insectivorous birds as most bats are relatively slow fliers and rely on echolocation rather than on vision. On the ground, predators include other mammals such as pine martens and domestic cats. Anti-predator adaptations include being cryptic. The bat mates each autumn. A male and female may chase each other around before settling down to mate. The male hangs himself behind and over the female. Nurseries are often shared with other species, such as greater mouse-eared and Geoffroy's bats, but there is no direct mixing with other species. The move to mixed-sex nurseries (8) occurs from April onwards, with 10-100 females present and 2- 20 males. About 65% of females in a nursery roost give birth between mid-June and mid-July, after @ 67 days (10). Females give birth to one pup, which weighs @ 1.8 g and is covered in fine, grey hairs, except on the underside, and has sensitive hairs near the noseleaf. Females do most of the caring of the young and, while maternity roosts may consist of many individuals, females keep to themselves and do not help each care for young. Young bats tend to develop quickly and their eyes open at @ 10 days. The pup is weaned at 4 weeks and is independent at 6-7 weeks (10). Individuals in maternity roosts separate in August. The bat becomes sexually mature within their first year; @ 15% of females give birth at one year old. In the wild, the average lifespan is @ 3-4 years. The maximum age recorded in captivity is 21 years. The Red List Category was Least Concern in 2008. Despite declines in northern parts of the range, the bat remains widespread, fairly common in some areas but rare in others and apparently stable in other areas. The IUCN has listed the bat as vulnerable; it does not face extinction in the wild now, but may become vulnerable to extinction in the near future. The major threats to their population are habitat loss and roost destruction due to human disturbance, changes in agricultural practices (such as increased use of insecticides, which reduce prey availability) and the loss of suitable foraging habitats, pollution and a change in prey dynamics. European populations are listed under Appendix II of The Bonn Convention (2), Appendix II of the Bern Convention, and Annexes II and IV of the EC Habitats and Species Directive. In the UK it is protected under Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, and Schedule 2 of the Conservation Regulations 1994 (9). Since the 1950s, the northern border of the range in western and central Europe has moved south. In the Netherlands, northern Belgium and Germany, except for a few colonies, the species went extinct (12,13). It disappeared from northern and western Bohemia and much of Poland where 87% of the hibernating population was lost from 1950-1990 (14,15). In Switzerland and Austria the distribution became fragmented, as colonies remained only in higher elevations (>400 m) (Stutz and Haffner 1984, Spitzenberger 2002), although in Switzerland at least the population has started to slowly recover over the last 10 years (increasing from 2,200 to 2,500 adults counted in maternity roosts: H. Kraettli pers. comm. 2006). In Spain some colonies have disappeared due to the restoration of buildings, but there are no data on population trend (J. Juste and T. Alcalde pers. comm. 2006), and in France there have been some declines in the north, although large populations in the south are thought to be more stable (EMA Workshop 2006).

In the southwest Asian part of the range it gathers in wintering colonies of up to 40 animals, although it is mainly solitary (K. Tsytsulina pers. comm. 2005). In Turkey it is a commonly reported species, and the population is stable (A. Karatash pers. comm. 2005). It is common in Iran although encountered less frequently than R. ferrumequinum (M. Sharifi pers. comm. 2005). It is not known how abundant this species is in Jordan and Syria but it may be more common than the collection reports indicate (Amr 2000).Threats include disturbance and loss of underground habitats and attics (conversion of attics in human habitat), agricultural intensification, fragmentation and isolation of habitats, and the use of pesticides in agricultural areas.The decline of this species is due to a number of factors including the disturbance or destruction of roosts, changes in agricultural practices such as the increased use of insecticides, which reduces prey availability (10), and loss of suitable foraging habitat (9). Protected by national legislation in all European range states. There are international legal obligations for protection through Bonn Convention (Eurobats) and Bern Convention, where those apply. Included in Annex II (and IV) of EU Habitats and Species Directive and hence requiring special measures for conservation including designation of Special Areas for Conservation. Some habitat protection through Natura 2000. Recommended conservation measures include protecting maternity roosting sites, hibernation caves and foraging habitats. This species is part of the National Bat Monitoring Programme, which aims to establish a long-term monitoring programme and is a priority species under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan. The Species Action Plan aims to encourage the long-term expansion of the current range through natural recolonisation (3). All bats carry the rabies virus. Because bats are losing their habitat to human development and expansion, they are moving closer and closer to human populated areas. Even though accounts of bats transmitting rabies to humans are uncommon, the risk is present and caution must be taken when in contact with these creatures.Because lesser horseshoe bats occupy many human dwellings when they roost, including cellars and attics, they are sometimes regarded as unwelcome pests. However, preventative measures can be taken to keep these bats from entering houses, such as blocking any crevices or holes in the walls through which these bats may crawl. Negative Impacts: injures humans (causes disease in humans ); household pest

•2006. "UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre" (On-line). Accessed at http://quin.unep-wcmc.org. Lesser horseshoe bats help reduce insect pest populations.

Lesser horseshoe bat in flight

The lesser horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus hipposideros) is a type of small European and North African insectivorous bat, related to its larger cousin, the greater horseshoe bat. As with all horseshoe bats, the species gets its name from its distinctive horseshoe-shaped noseleaf.