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Rhinolophus hipposideroslesser horseshoe bat

By Luming Feng

Geographic Range

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. ("UK Biodiversity Action Plan", 2006; Schober and Grimmberger, 1989; Stebbings and Griffith, 1986)

Habitat

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. ("UK Biodiversity Action Plan", 2006; Schober and Grimmberger, 1997; Walker, 2005)

  • Range elevation
    1160 to 2000 m
    3805.77 to 6561.68 ft

Physical Description

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. ("UK Biodiversity Action Plan", 2006; Altringham, 1999; Schober and Grimmberger, 1989; Walker, 2005)

  • Sexual Dimorphism
  • sexes alike
  • Range mass
    5 to 9 g
    0.18 to 0.32 oz
  • Range length
    35 to 45 mm
    1.38 to 1.77 in
  • Range wingspan
    192 to 254 mm
    7.56 to 10.00 in

Reproduction

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. (Schober and Grimmberger, 1989)

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. (Altringham, 1999; Schober and Grimmberger, 1997; Walker, 2005)

  • Breeding interval
    Lesser horseshoe bats breed once yearly.
  • Breeding season
    Breeding occurs in autumn.
  • Range number of offspring
    1 to 2
  • Average number of offspring
    1
    AnAge
  • Average gestation period
    67 days
    AnAge
  • 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 (female)
    Sex: female
    500 days
    AnAge
  • Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male)
    1 years
  • Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male)
    Sex: male
    471 days
    AnAge

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. (Schober and Grimmberger, 1989)

  • Parental Investment
  • pre-fertilization
    • provisioning
    • protecting
      • female
  • pre-hatching/birth
    • provisioning
      • female
    • protecting
      • female
  • pre-weaning/fledging
    • provisioning
      • female
    • protecting
      • female

Lifespan/Longevity

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. (Schober and Grimmberger, 1997)

  • Range lifespan
    Status: captivity
    21 (high) years
  • Typical lifespan
    Status: wild
    3 to 4 years

Behavior

Lesser horseshoe bats are solitary except when forming maternity (breeding) roosts in the summer. During this time, groups of 10 to 100 individuals, consisting of mostly females, come together to raise young. When hibernating in the winter, these bats prefer to roost individually, but in close proximity to others. ("UK Biodiversity Action Plan", 2006; Csorba, et al., 2003; Schober and Grimmberger, 1997; Walker, 2005)

Home Range

Lesser horseshoe bats do not migrate and only travel 5 to 10 km between summer and winter roosts. The longest distance recorded traveled by a lesser horseshoe bat is 153 km. (Schober and Grimmberger, 1997)

Communication and Perception

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. (Schober and Grimmberger, 1997)

Food Habits

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. (Arlettaz, et al., 2000; McAney and Fairly, 1989; Schober and Grimmberger, 1989)

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. (Arlettaz, et al., 2000; McAney and Fairly, 1989; Schober and Grimmberger, 1989)

  • Animal Foods
  • insects
  • terrestrial non-insect arthropods

Predation

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. (Jones and Rydell, 1994; Presetnik, 2004)

  • Anti-predator Adaptations
  • cryptic

Ecosystem Roles

Lesser horseshoe bats impact their ecosystem by feeding on large numbers of insects. ("UK Biodiversity Action Plan", 2006)

Economic Importance for Humans: Positive

Lesser horseshoe bats help reduce insect pest populations. ("UK Biodiversity Action Plan", 2006)

  • Positive Impacts
  • controls pest population

Economic Importance for Humans: Negative

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. ("UK Biodiversity Action Plan", 2006; "UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre", 2006)

Conservation Status

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. ("2004 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species", 2006)

Contributors

Tanya Dewey (editor), Animal Diversity Web.

Luming Feng (author), University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Phil Myers (editor, instructor), Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor.

Glossary

Ethiopian

living in sub-Saharan Africa (south of 30 degrees north) and Madagascar.

World Map

Palearctic

living in the northern part of the Old World. In otherwords, Europe and Asia and northern Africa.

World Map

acoustic

uses sound to communicate

bilateral symmetry

having body symmetry such that the animal can be divided in one plane into two mirror-image halves. Animals with bilateral symmetry have dorsal and ventral sides, as well as anterior and posterior ends. Synapomorphy of the Bilateria.

carnivore

an animal that mainly eats meat

causes disease in humans

an animal which directly causes disease in humans. For example, diseases caused by infection of filarial nematodes (elephantiasis and river blindness).

chemical

uses smells or other chemicals to communicate

cryptic

having markings, coloration, shapes, or other features that cause an animal to be camouflaged in its natural environment; being difficult to see or otherwise detect.

echolocation

The process by which an animal locates itself with respect to other animals and objects by emitting sound waves and sensing the pattern of the reflected sound waves.

endothermic

animals that use metabolically generated heat to regulate body temperature independently of ambient temperature. Endothermy is a synapomorphy of the Mammalia, although it may have arisen in a (now extinct) synapsid ancestor; the fossil record does not distinguish these possibilities. Convergent in birds.

forest

forest biomes are dominated by trees, otherwise forest biomes can vary widely in amount of precipitation and seasonality.

heterothermic

having a body temperature that fluctuates with that of the immediate environment; having no mechanism or a poorly developed mechanism for regulating internal body temperature.

hibernation

the state that some animals enter during winter in which normal physiological processes are significantly reduced, thus lowering the animal's energy requirements. The act or condition of passing winter in a torpid or resting state, typically involving the abandonment of homoiothermy in mammals.

insectivore

An animal that eats mainly insects or spiders.

iteroparous

offspring are produced in more than one group (litters, clutches, etc.) and across multiple seasons (or other periods hospitable to reproduction). Iteroparous animals must, by definition, survive over multiple seasons (or periodic condition changes).

motile

having the capacity to move from one place to another.

native range

the area in which the animal is naturally found, the region in which it is endemic.

nocturnal

active during the night

polygynandrous

the kind of polygamy in which a female pairs with several males, each of which also pairs with several different females.

seasonal breeding

breeding is confined to a particular season

sedentary

remains in the same area

sexual

reproduction that includes combining the genetic contribution of two individuals, a male and a female

solitary

lives alone

suburban

living in residential areas on the outskirts of large cities or towns.

tactile

uses touch to communicate

temperate

that region of the Earth between 23.5 degrees North and 60 degrees North (between the Tropic of Cancer and the Arctic Circle) and between 23.5 degrees South and 60 degrees South (between the Tropic of Capricorn and the Antarctic Circle).

terrestrial

Living on the ground.

tropical savanna and grassland

A terrestrial biome. Savannas are grasslands with scattered individual trees that do not form a closed canopy. Extensive savannas are found in parts of subtropical and tropical Africa and South America, and in Australia.

savanna

A grassland with scattered trees or scattered clumps of trees, a type of community intermediate between grassland and forest. See also Tropical savanna and grassland biome.

temperate grassland

A terrestrial biome found in temperate latitudes (>23.5° N or S latitude). Vegetation is made up mostly of grasses, the height and species diversity of which depend largely on the amount of moisture available. Fire and grazing are important in the long-term maintenance of grasslands.

urban

living in cities and large towns, landscapes dominated by human structures and activity.

visual

uses sight to communicate

viviparous

reproduction in which fertilization and development take place within the female body and the developing embryo derives nourishment from the female.

References

2006. "2004 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species" (On-line). Accessed March 16, 2006 at http://www.redlist.org/.

2006. "UK Biodiversity Action Plan" (On-line). Accessed March 12, 2006 at http://www.ukbap.org.uk/.

2006. "UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre" (On-line). Accessed March 11, 2006 at http://quin.unep-wcmc.org.

Altringham, J. 1999. Bats, Biology, and Behaviour. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Arlettaz, R., S. Godat, H. Meyer. 2000. Competition for food by expanding pipistrelle bat populations (Pipistrellus pipistrellus) might contribute to the decline of lesser horsehoe bats (Rhinolophus hipposideros). Biological Conservation, 93: 55-60.

Csorba, G., P. Ujhelyi, N. Thomas. 2003. Horseshoe Bats of the World. Shropshire: Alana Books.

Jones, G., J. Rydell. 1994. Foraging strategy and predation risk as factors influencing emergence time in echolocating bats. Philosophical Transactions: Biological Sciences, 346: 445-455.

McAney, C., J. Fairly. 1989. Analysis of the diet of the lesser horseshoe bat Rhinolophus hipposideros in the west of Ireland. Journal of Zoology, 217: 491-498.

Presetnik, P. 2004. Bat species and conservation issues in the castle Grad na Gorickem (NE Slovenia). Mammalia, 68: 427-435.

Schober, W., E. Grimmberger. 1989. The Bats of Britain and Europe. London: Hamlyn.

Schober, W., E. Grimmberger. 1997. The Bats of Europe and North America. New Jersey: TFH Publications, Inc.

Stebbings, R., F. Griffith. 1986. Distribution and Status of Bats in Europe. Huntingdon: Institute of Terrestrial Ecology.

Walker, M. 2005. "Lesser Horseshoe Bat Rhinolophus hipposideros " (On-line). Accessed March 11, 2006 at http://www.worlddeer.org/britishbats/lesserhorseshoebat.html.

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