(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 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. mehely 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
Geographic Range:
R. mehely 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.
Publications: