Blasius's horseshoe bat


Blasius's horseshoe bat is a species of insectivorous bat in the family Rhinolophidae found throughout large parts of the Mediterranean, Middle East and Northern Africa.

Taxonomy

Blasius's horseshoe bat was described as a new species in 1866 by German naturalist Wilhelm Peters. The holotype had been collected in Italy. The eponym for the species name "blasii" was German zoologist Johann Heinrich Blasius.

Description

Individuals have forearm lengths of and weigh, making it small for an African horseshoe bat.

Biology and ecology

Blasius's horseshoe bat is insectivorous, consuming moths, termites, beetles, and flies, among other kinds. It hunts for its prey by hawking, or catching insects on the wing, or gleaning, which means plucking insects off foliage or the ground. Its social behaviors are poorly understood, but it will roost singly or in small groups. Group foraging consisting of up to five individuals has been reported in Malawi. They have one annual breeding season, and females give birth to a single young.

Range and habitat

Blasius's horseshoe bat has been documented at a range of elevations from above sea level. It has a large geographic range, though its populations are patchily distributed. Its range includes Africa, Asia, and Europe. It is extinct in Italy, and possibly extinct in Slovenia. Its habitat includes deserts, savannas, shrublands, and forests.