Species

Rhinolophus euryale

Photographer:
Jens Rydell
Species

Rhinolophus euryale

Assessment Information
IUCN Status:
Near threatened
Taxonomy
Class:
Order:
Family:

The Mediterranean Horseshoe bat is medium-sized (wingspan 300-320 mm) with grey/red-brown fluffy fur. Its ears and membranes are light grey and its connecting process is slighty pointed and bent downwards.

Similarly to R. blasii, it occurs in the Mediterranean basin and is associated with limestone areas. Underground sites and occasionally cellars and roofs are selected as summer roosts; on the other hand, caves with a constant microclimate are chosen for winter roosts.
 
R. euryale can not only hunt in open forests but also in dense vegetation due to its agile flight manoeuvers. Its diet comprises of small moths, crane-flies and small beetles, which it catches mostly while in flight.
 
Although more research still needs to be conducted, this species appears to be sedentary, with roosts located around 50 km from each other.
Species authority
Blasius, 1853
Population trend

Decreasing according to the IUCN Red List.

Threats

Threats include the disturbance of underground roosts (e.g. cave tourism), loss of foraging habitats, use of pesticides in (riparian) forests, as well as habitat fragmentation.

Geographic Range

R. euryale is distributed in the Mediterranean area from northwest Africa over most Mediterranean islands (except the Balearics and Crete), throughout the Iberian Peninsula, southern France, Italy, the Balkan peninsula, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and the western parts of Asia Minor. It also occurs in the Near East (Iran, Iraq and the Caucasus area).

Rhinolophus euryale distribution map
Rhinolophus euryale distribution map

Geographic range

Albania
Algeria
Andorra
Armenia
Azerbaijan
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bulgaria
Croatia
France
Georgia
Greece
Hungary
Iran
Iraq
Israel
Italy
Jordan
Lebanon
Montenegro
Morocco
North Macedonia
Portugal
Romania
Russian Federation
San Marino
Serbia
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Syrian Arab Republic
Tunisia
Türkiye