Brown Long-Eared Bats

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Scientific name: Plecotus Auritus

Size: Wingspan approximately 25 to 33cm.  Head and body around 45mm.  Ears approximately 30m tall.

Distribution: Found throughout the UK.

Months seen: April to October

Food: Beetles, moths, spiders, flies and midges.

Habitat: Frequently roosts in old buildings and attic spaces.

Echolocation Frequency: 40 - 45 kHz

Special features: Brown Long-eared bats are quite small in size and their long ears feature a long pointed tragus.

The ultrasound is emitted through the nostrils, and the inside edges of the ears have tiny hairs which help to receive the vibrations coming back from thier target.

They are sometimes called 'the whispering bat' because the ultrasound produced for locating prey is quieter than many other bats.  The system is so highly tuned that they can distinguish between an insect and the leaf on which it is resting.

Related Pages

• UK Safari Bat Section
• UK Safari Mammal Section
• What's Out Now?