Bats are the only true flying mammals. In Britain they are insectivorous (eat insects), and contrary to popular misconception they are not blind; many can actually see very well (6). All British bats use echolocation to orient themselves at night; they emit bursts of sound that are of such high frequencies they are beyond the human range of hearing and are therefore called 'ultrasound' (7). They then listen to and interpret the echoes bounced back from objects, including prey, around them, allowing them to build up a 'sound-picture' of their surroundings (7). Grey long-eared bats are nocturnal, emerging from their roosts only after nightfall (2). They are extremely skilful flyers, and hunt for flying insects such as moths, small beetles and flies (2) (8). Like the brown long-eared bat, this species may take prey items taken to a perch to be eaten (2). Little is known of mating behaviour and reproduction in this bat. The mating season occurs in autumn, during which time males are territorial (7). Fertilisation is delayed until the following spring (7). Summer maternity roosts are small, containing 10 to 30 females, and a single young is produced in mid to late June (2). Hibernation takes place between September and April (6). The grey long-eared bat can live to a maximum of 14.5 years (2), but average ages of five years for males, and nine for females are more realistic (7).

The grey long-eared bat is one of Britain's rarest mammals. It is very similar in appearance to the brown long-eared bat (Plecotus auritus), and was only rediscovered in Central Europe in 1960 (5). As the common names of both species suggests, these bats have strikingly large ears (2). The grey long-eared bat has long grey fur; the belly is paler (2). The eyes are fairly large, the nose and upper lip are greyish to black, and the ears and wing membranes are blackish in colour (2).

Plecotus austriacus is restricted to Europe, excluding northern countries. Widespread south of 52-53°N, from south England to Moldova and the Black Sea Coast southwards to the Mediterranean coast (Spitzenberger et al. 2006). One record in south Sweden. Found on Mediterranean and Atlantic islands: Balearic Islands, Sardinia, Corsica and Sicily and Madeira (Spitzenberger et al. 2006). Highest confirmed record in the Alps 1,390 m (hibernaculum) (Spitzenberger 2002).

The grey long-eared bat is found in suitable habitat across Eurasia and northern Africa.

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

In Europe, this species is widespread and fairly abundant in the south, is less common than the brown long-eared bat in central areas, and rare in the northwest (7). In Britain this species is very rare (7), and is known only from the southwest and the coasts of southern England, it also occurs in the Channel Islands and on the Isle of Wight (7). Although probably always rare, several British populations have become extinct in the last 30 years (7).

This species strongly resembles another species in its genus, P. auritus, except for color. The fur of the P. austriacus is more grey than brown. Its face is also slightly larger. It has very broad wings and long ears measuring about 40 mm in length. Its ears are folded and tucked underneath its wings during the winter months of hibernation. (Nowak 1997)

Range mass: 5 to 20 g.

Average mass: 10 g.

Range length: 45 to 70 mm.

Average length: 58 mm.

Range wingspan: 35 to 52 mm.

Average wingspan: 44 mm.

Other Physical Features: endothermic ; bilateral symmetry

Habitat and Ecology

Systems

• Terrestrial

P. austriacus can be found dwelling in caves, tall tropical flowers, old bird nests, under rocks, or more likely in tunnels and buildings with many crevices. They are rarely found deep in caves but spend most of the winter at the entrances. They also tend to return to the same roosting site year after year. P. austriacus can be found mostly in villages where there is an abundance of trees and warm old buildings. (Altringham,1996)

Habitat Regions: temperate ; terrestrial

Terrestrial Biomes: forest

Other Habitat Features: urban ; suburban

This bat has a strong preference for warm lowland areas, tending to inhabit cultivated areas and valleys below 400 metres (7). Summer roosts are in buildings, and hibernation occurs in caves, mine tunnels and cellars (2).

Like most vespertilionids bats, these bats usually capture insects while flying by using a pouch formed by their tail membrane. Because they only fly after dark, P. austriacus rely heavily on echolocation in order to capture prey. Insects are usually the preferred dish although there have been cases where a bat in captivity was given only a small lizard and ate it. (Leen 1969)

Animal Foods: reptiles; insects

Primary Diet: carnivore (Insectivore )

Plecotus austriacus can stay in flight while hunting its prey and get back to its roosting site with no trouble from predators. The only effective predator on this bat is usually humans. Predation by birds is usually opportunistic. Predation by domestic cats is a threat to those bats dwelling in attics and rafters of old homes. (Nowak 1997)

Known Predators:

• humans (Homo sapiens)
• domestic cats (Felis silvestris)

Plecotus austriacus is prey of:
Homo sapiens
Felis silvestris

This list may not be complete but is based on published studies.

Plecotus austriacus preys on:
Insecta
Reptilia

This list may not be complete but is based on published studies.

Range lifespan

Status: wild: 21 (high) years.

Range lifespan

Status: captivity: over 20 (high) years.

Average lifespan

Status: wild: 15.0 years.

Observations: It is likely that these animals live up to 30 years in the wild, but precise data is lacking.

Members of this species practice sperm storage and delayed fertilization. The male and female copulate in the fall, whereupon sperm is stored in the uterus of the female. Ovulation and fertilization occur in the following spring. The young are born early in summer in order to have enough time to build enough fat from weaning to survive the winter. The female has only one reproductive cycle per year. During the developmental stage, the mother and offspring remain in their roosting sites for July and August. (Swift 1998 and Wilson 1997)

Range number of offspring: 1 to 4.

Range gestation period: 40 to 100 days.

Range age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female): 2 to 3 years.

Range age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male): 1 to 2 years.

Key Reproductive Features: seasonal breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); viviparous ; sperm-storing ; delayed fertilization

Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 0
Species: 9
Species With Barcodes: 1

In Britain, the grey long-eared bat is protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act of 1981 which makes it illegal to capture, injure, kill, or disturb a bat.

Other ways to conserve this population are to preserve old farm buildings and deciduous woodlands.

US Migratory Bird Act: no special status

US Federal List: no special status

CITES: no special status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: least concern

Classified as Lower Risk / Least Concern (LR/lc) on the IUCN Red List 2007 (1). In Great Britain, all bats are fully protected under Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981) as amended, and by the Conservation Regulations (1994) (3). An agreement on the Conservation of Bats in Europe (EUROBATS) under the auspices of the Bonn Convention, also known as the Convention on Migratory species (CMS) is in force, and all European bats are listed under Appendix II of the CMS (4).

Population

Population Trend

Major Threats

Like all bats, this species is vulnerable to a number of threats, and is at particular risk from harsh winters in Britain (7). Habitat change and loss, affecting the availability of insect prey and causing the fragmentation of feeding habitat is a serious problem for many bats, furthermore pesticide use has devastating effects, by causing severe declines in insect prey abundance, and contaminating food with potentially fatal toxins (4). Insecticides applied to timbers inside buildings where roosts occur are a particular danger, the initial treatment can wipe out whole colonies (spraying timber where bats are roosting is now illegal), but the effects of these chemicals can be lethal to bats for up to 20 years (4).

Conservation Actions

In Britain, bats benefit from a very comprehensive level of legal protection (4). Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act of 1981 it is illegal to intentionally kill, injure, take or sell a bat, posses a live bat or part of a bat, to intentionally, or in England and Wales, recklessly damage obstruct or destroy access to bat roosts. Under the Conservation Regulations it is an offence to damage or destroy breeding sites or resting places. Fines of up to £5,000 per bat affected and six months imprisonment are in place for these offences (3). Several species of bat also benefit by the public putting bat boxes up.

The only documented problem found with P. austriacus is that it tends to hibernate in buildings frequented by humans. It can be seen as a household pest because its droppings in attics may cover furniture and other possessions stored there. Contrary to popular belief, bats are not dirty but groom themselves often. Another potential problem is that bats carry rabies. In fact, one is much more likely to get rabies from an unvaccinated dog than from a bat.

Negative Impacts: household pest

Because this species is an insectivore, it can be said that they control insect populations in their geographic range.

Positive Impacts: controls pest population