Taxonomy

Rhinolophus hipposideros | Lesser Horseshoe Bat

Distribution

Status

Conservation status


HABITATS DIRECTIVE ARTICLE 17 REPORTING
Range
Favourable
Population
Favourable
Habitat
Favourable
 Future Prospects
Favourable
Overall Assessment of Conservation Status
Favourable
Overall Trend in Conservation Status
N/A
Source: NPWS 2013.

IUCN Conservation Status
Ireland (1)
Least concern
Europe (2)
Near threatened
Global (3)
Least Concern
Sources: (1) Marnell, F. et al 2009; (2) Hutson, Tony et al 2007; (3) Jacobs, D et al 2008.


Legal status

Protected by the following legal instruments:

  • Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC), Annex II, Annex IV
  • Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (Bern Convention) Appendix II
  • Agreement on the Conservation of Populations of European Bats (EUROBATS)
  • Wildlife Act, 1976
  • Wildlife (Amendment) Act (2000)
  • Wildlife (N.I.) Order of 1985

Native status

Native.

Species Biology

Identification

  • The Lesser Horseshoe bat got its name from the horseshoe-shaped leaf of skin on its nose which concentrates the sounds produced through the nostrils used in echolocation.
  • It is a tiny bat that hangs freely by its feet and wraps its wings around its body, the only Irish species to do so.
  • The wing span ranges 22-25cm, body length is 35-39mm and it weighs 6-9g.
  • The fur is greyish in young bats and becomes buff coloured in adults.
  • The lesser horseshoe bat's echolocation calls peak at 105-115 kHz on a bat detector.

Source: Conor Kelleher / Bat Conservation Ireland.

Habitat

In Ireland, this species is found in or near deciduous woodland and scrub often associated with limestone areas.

In such places it uses old abandoned stone buildings with slate or corrugated iron over thatch roofs for its summer roosts.

The Lesser Horseshoe Bat also lives in old mansions and cottages, disused churches and various types of outbuildings that have large enough entrances to allow it to fly freely into roof spaces and cellars.

Although Lesser Horseshoe Bats sometimes hibernate in stone buildings, mines, caves, cellars and ice houses are more frequently used.

Source: Conor Kelleher/Bat Conservation Ireland.

Habitats include but are not necessarily limited to;

  • Semi-natural woodland (WN)
  • (Mixed) broadleaved woodland (WD1)
  • Mixed broadleaved / conifer woodland (WD2)

  • Stone walls and other stonework (BL1)
  • Building and artificial surfaces (BL3)
  • Non-marine caves (EU1)
  • Artificial underground habitats (EU2)

Sources: Conor Kelleher / Bat Conservation Ireland; Lundy, M.G. et al, 2011; Fossitt, J.A., 2001.

Reproduction

Mating occurs September to November but young are not born until June and July due to delayed implantation.

Maternity roosts usually number from 30 to 250 females but sometimes larger colonies can be present.

A single offspring weighing 1.7 - 2g is produced.

Females have two mammary glands with functioning nipples on their chest from which they feed the young but they also develop two non-functioning teats in the groin to which the young attach between feeds.This allows the young to hang with their heads up while their mothers are roosting upside down.

The young bat grows quickly becoming independent after about five weeks.

Sexual maturity is reached at one year old. While the average lifespan in Ireland is thought to be 4 years, the species is known to live to 23 years.

Source: Conor Kelleher/Bat Conservation Ireland.

Threats faced

THREAT
ARTICLE 17 THREAT CODE
RANKING
Reconstruction, renovation of buildings
E06.02High
Forest and Plantation management & use
B02
High
Removal of hedges and copses or scrub
A10.01
Medium
Demolishment of buildings & human structuresE06.01Medium
Light pollution
H06.02
Medium
Inundation (natural processes)*
L08
Medium
Speleology
G01.04.02
Low
Recreational cave visits
G01.04.03Low
Other human intrusions and disturbancesG05Low

*This is noted as being an issue in Karst caves in counties Clare and Galway.

Source: NPWS 2013.

The 2009 Irish Terrestrial Mammal Red List identified the following threats Rhinolophus hipposideros in Ireland: 

  • Loss of roosting sites due to deterioration or renovation of old buildings.
  • Loss of commuting routes linking roosts to foraging sites.
  • Unsympathetic management of foraging sites

Source: Marnell, F. et al 2009

The 2007 IUCN European regional Red List assessment for this species also includes the following threat;

  • Fragmentation and isolation of habitats.

Source: Hutson, T.  et al 2007


Conservation actions

In the Article 17 Habitats Directive reporting for the period 2007-2012 Conservation Measures implemented or being implemented during the period were listed as:

  • Legal protection of the species and its habitats inside and outside Natura 2000 sites
  • Adaptation of forest management inside and outside Natura 2000 sites
  • Specific management of traffic and energy transport systems.
Source: NPWS 2013.

There are no suggested Conservation Actions in the 2009 Irish Terrestrial Mammal Red List.

In the IUCN European Red List  Version 2014.2 suggested Conservation Actions on a European level to a large extent mirror those in place or suggested for Ireland apart from one in particular which is;

  • Compensation schemes as in incentive for people to keep colonies in their houses.

Source: Hutson, T.  et al 2007

Distribution

World distribution(GBIF)

The Lesser Horseshoe Bat is distributed mainly across southern Europe, parts of North and East Africa and also the Middle East. The species has declined throughout Europe but has populations within the British Isles.


Accuracy of world distribution shown in the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) map below will be constrained by, amongst other factors, data held but not shared by countries and organizations not participating in the GBIF.

Irish distribution




Temporal change

Records submitted to Data Centre in 2024

The following map is interactive. If you would prefer to view it full screen then click here.

How can you help

The National Biodiversity Data Centre is trying to improve our knowledge on the distribution of the Lesser Horseshoe Bat in Ireland. Should you observe this bat species, please submit sighting to add to the database. Detailed observations will assist us gaining a better insight into where the species is most abundant in Ireland and we might also be able to detect regional variations. Please submit any sightings and photographs at

http://records.biodiversityireland.ie/index.php

All records submitted on line can be viewed on Google Maps – once checked and validated these will be added to the Mammals of Ireland Database and made available for conservation and research.

Further information

For further information contact Dr. Liam Lysaght llysaght@biodiversityireland.ie

References

Publications

Fossitt, J.A., (2001). A Guide to Habitats in Ireland. The Heritage Council.

Hutson, T., Spitzenberger, F. , Juste, J., Aulagnier S., Fernandes, M., Alcaldé, J.T.,  2007. Rhinolophus hipposideros. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 01 October 2014.

Jacobs, D., Cotterill, F.P.D., Taylor, P.J., Aulagnier, S., Juste, J., Spitzenberger, F. & Hutson, A.M. 2008. Rhinolophus hipposideros. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 01 October 2014.

Lundy M.G., Aughney T., Montgomery W.I., Roche N., (2011) Landscape conservation for Irish bats & species specific roosting characteristics. Bat Conservation Ireland

Marnell, F., Kingston, N. & Looney, D. (2009) Ireland Red List No. 3: Terrestrial Mammals, National Parks and Wildlife Service, Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Dublin, Ireland

NPWS (2013) The Status of EU Protected Habitats and Species in Ireland.  Species Assessments Volume 3. Version 1.0. Unpublished Report, National Parks & Wildlife Services. Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Dublin, Ireland.



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