Rhinolophus mehelyi

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Photographer: 
Szilárd Bucs
Species authority: 
Matschie, 1901
(EN) Mehely's Horseshoe Bat; (FR) Rhinolophe de Mehely; (DE) Mehely-Hufeisennase; (ES) Murciélago mediano de herradura;
Class: 
MAMMALIA
Order: 
CHIROPTERA
Family: 
Rhinolophidae
 
Species details: 

With a wingspan of 320-340 mm, Mehely's Horseshoe bat is larger than R. blasii and R. euryale. Its fur is dense being white in the venter and grey-brown at the dorsum.

This is a cave-dwelling species, which roosts exclusively in caves during both summer and winter. R. mehelyi forages in meadows, pastures and also steppes. Its diet is mostly comprised of moths but crane-flies and beetles are also occasionally included.
IUCN status: 
Vulnerable
Distribution map of Rhinolophus mehelyi
Geographic Range: 

R. mehelyi is largely restricted to the Mediterranean. It is scattered across north Africa (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Egypt) and southern Europe (southern Portugal and Spain, possibly one occurrence in France, a few places in Italy and the Balkans).

Threats: 

Mehely's Horseshoe bat can be affected by disturbance and loss of underground habitats, changes in foraging habitats, and destruction of caves by tourism. Mortality due to collision with cars is a problem in some areas (e.g., Portugal). The reasons for the decline in population are not fully understood.

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