Geoffroy’s bat

The species is distributed in southern Europe, north to the Netherlands and southern Poland, Crimea, the Caucasus, Kopet Dag, east to Uzbekistan and Eastern Iran, Israel, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Lebanon, Afghanistan. In Bulgaria it is found throughout the country, in the mountains up to 1 500 m above sea level. More significant permanent colonies are known near the village of Reselets (near Cherven Bryag), around Maslen Nos and in the Eastern Rhodopes.

The Geoffroy’s bat is a medium-sized bat. Its hairs are tricolor – grey at the base, yellow in the middle, and the tips – deep reddish brown. The abdominal side is yellowish-grey. Muzzle – reddish-brown, ears and membranes – darker grey-brown. The outer edge of the ear has a clear cut at the top. When hunting prefers areas covered with shrubs or trees. Sometimes it hunts over water areas. It also settles in karst areas, ravines and gardens. It feeds on small invertebrates (spiders, flies, web beetles, etc.), which it collects from the leaf surface of trees and shrubs. It inhabits caves, attics of residential buildings and, less frequently, artificial galleries. Characteristic of summer shelters is the high temperature in them (36-40 °C). The species often lives together with horseshoe bats, Shreiber’s bent-winged bat and Long-fingered bat. Winters in caves and less often in winter galleries – individually or in small groups. Copulation is at the end of summer. On the following year, in May, the breeding colonies are formed, consisting mainly of females. The off springs are born in June. The solo flights of the young are registered on July 20 at the earliest. The colony disintegrates in mid-August. The maximum established life expectancy is 20 years.

Unfavorable-inadequate.

The Geoffroy’s bat is strictly protected species included in Annexes 2 and 3 of the Biodiversity Act (BDA); Annex II of the Bern Convention and Bonn Convention. The species is also included in Annex II and Annex IV of Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (Habitats Directive). The Geoffroy’s bat is included in the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Red List of Threatened Species with category Least Concern (LC) and the species is also part of the Red Data Book of Bulgaria (2015) with category “Vulnerable” (VU).

*Note: For the description of bats is used information from: Golemanski, V. & al. (eds). 2015. Red Data Book of the Republic of Bulgaria. Vol. 2. Animals. BAS & MoEW, Sofia [English ed.: ISBN 978-954-9746-22-8 (IBER – BAS), 978-954-8497-18-3 (MoEW)]; the website of the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature); the website of the Federation of nature conservation NGOs “Green Balkans”.