Home Application Download FAQ
English
English
日本語
Español
Français
Deutsch
Italiano

Greater horseshoe bat

A species of Horseshoe bat
Scientific name : Rhinolophus ferrumequinum Genus : Horseshoe bat

Greater horseshoe bat, A species of Horseshoe bat
Scientific name: Rhinolophus ferrumequinum
Genus: Horseshoe bat
Greater horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum) Photo By Oleksander Zakletskiy , used under CC-BY-4.0 /Cropped and compressed from original

Description

The greater horseshoe bat is the largest horseshoe bat in Europe. It has a distinctive noseleaf, which has a pointed upper part and a horseshoe shaped lower part. Its horseshoe noseleaf helps to focus the ultrasound it uses to 'see'. The greater horseshoe bat also has tooth and bone structures that are distinct from that of other rhinolophids. Its first premolar on the upper jaw protrudes from the row of teeth. For other horseshoe bats, this premolar is very small or non-existent. Also in comparison to its relatives, the greater horseshoe bat has relatively short third and fourth metacarpal bones in its wings. It also lacks a tragus. The Greater Horseshoe Bat is, on average, between 57–71 millimetres (2.2–2.8 in) long, with a 35–43 mm tail (1.4–1.7 in) and a 350–400 mm wingspan (14–16 in); Rhinolophus ferrumequinum also exhibits slight sexual dimorphism, with females being a bit larger than males. The fur of the species is soft and fluffy, with the base of hairs being light grey, the dorsal side hair grey brown and the ventral side grey-white, with juvenile bats having more of an ash-grey tint to their fur. Wing membranes and ears are light grey-brown. The greater horseshoe bat weighs up to 30 grams (1.1 oz) and can live up to 30 years

General Info

Lifespan

30-31 years

Diet

The dietary habits of greater horseshoe bat revolve primarily around insectivory; it prefers consuming arthropods. Notably, it predominantly feasts on moths, demonstrating a marked preference for those of the Lepidoptera order, employing a strategy of snatching preys from surfaces while commuting or foraging.

Appearance

Greater horseshoe bat is a small to medium-sized bat, with dense, woolly fur. Its color ranges from chestnut to dark brown, lighter on the underside. The most distinct feature is the horse-shoe shaped noseleaf, used for echolocation. Both sexes appear similar, although females may be slightly larger. Adult bats have long wings and a tail enclosed in the interfemoral membrane. The broad ears are separated and rounded.

Behavior

Greater horseshoe bat is nocturnal and exhibits echolocation for precision in food location and navigation. These bats are colonial, living in large roosts, often found in caves, mines, or buildings. In summer, females create maternity colonies, separated from males. Unique to greater horseshoe bat is their hibernation behavior, solitary and inactive most of the winter, in caves or old mines. They feed on insects, displaying agile flight and hunting techniques.

Population

Decreasing
Greater horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum) Greater horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum) Photo By Oleksander Zakletskiy , used under CC-BY-4.0 /Cropped and compressed from original

Scientific Classification

AI animal expert in your pocket
Scan QR code to download
Cookie Management Tool
In addition to managing cookies through your browser or device, you can change your cookie settings below.
Necessary Cookies
Necessary cookies enable core functionality. The website cannot function properly without these cookies, and can only be disabled by changing your browser preferences.
Analytical Cookies
Analytical cookies help us to improve our application/website by collecting and reporting information on its usage.
Cookie Name Source Purpose Lifespan
_ga Google Analytics These cookies are set because of our use of Google Analytics. They are used to collect information about your use of our application/website. The cookies collect specific information, such as your IP address, data related to your device and other information about your use of the application/website. Please note that the data processing is essentially carried out by Google LLC and Google may use your data collected by the cookies for own purposes, e.g. profiling and will combine it with other data such as your Google Account. For more information about how Google processes your data and Google’s approach to privacy as well as implemented safeguards for your data, please see here. 1 Year
_pta PictureThis Analytics We use these cookies to collect information about how you use our site, monitor site performance, and improve our site performance, our services, and your experience. 1 Year
Cookie Name
_ga
Source
Google Analytics
Purpose
These cookies are set because of our use of Google Analytics. They are used to collect information about your use of our application/website. The cookies collect specific information, such as your IP address, data related to your device and other information about your use of the application/website. Please note that the data processing is essentially carried out by Google LLC and Google may use your data collected by the cookies for own purposes, e.g. profiling and will combine it with other data such as your Google Account. For more information about how Google processes your data and Google’s approach to privacy as well as implemented safeguards for your data, please see here.
Lifespan
1 Year

Cookie Name
_pta
Source
PictureThis Analytics
Purpose
We use these cookies to collect information about how you use our site, monitor site performance, and improve our site performance, our services, and your experience.
Lifespan
1 Year
Marketing Cookies
Marketing cookies are used by advertising companies to serve ads that are relevant to your interests.
Cookie Name Source Purpose Lifespan
_fbp Facebook Pixel A conversion pixel tracking that we use for retargeting campaigns. Learn more here. 1 Year
_adj Adjust This cookie provides mobile analytics and attribution services that enable us to measure and analyze the effectiveness of marketing campaigns, certain events and actions within the Application. Learn more here. 1 Year
Cookie Name
_fbp
Source
Facebook Pixel
Purpose
A conversion pixel tracking that we use for retargeting campaigns. Learn more here.
Lifespan
1 Year

Cookie Name
_adj
Source
Adjust
Purpose
This cookie provides mobile analytics and attribution services that enable us to measure and analyze the effectiveness of marketing campaigns, certain events and actions within the Application. Learn more here.
Lifespan
1 Year
Download