CROATIAN FAUNA – BATS, Geoffroy bat

A typical representative of murine bats (family Vespertilionidae) that distinguishes from other species with its distinctly reddish fur on its back and the characteristic ear notch. The species is widespread but prefers warmer regions. Hence, the largest colonies in Croatia are found in caves and under roofs on the coast, and according to current information, it is one of most numerous populations of this species in Europe. Geoffroy bats often occupy only a dusky or even well illuminated parts of cave entrances, and are very sensitive to disturbance. In the continental Croatia, only smaller colonies are known to be living in the roofs of buildings. In the winter only individual appearances were recorded in caves. Geoffroy bat is the forest resident and it takes a variety of invertebrates off the twigs and leaves of trees and shrubs. The species is endangered by disturbance and destruction of maternity shelters in houses and caves and by hunting habitat fragmentation. Igor Pavlinić, Ph. D.