The northern bat (Eptesicus nilssonii) – a new species for the bat fauna of Belgium [První nález netopýra severního (Eptesicus nilssonii) v Belgii]

Pages

97–98

Citation

ČERVENÝ, Jaroslav a LECOCQ, Yves. The northern bat (Eptesicus nilssonii) – a new species for the bat fauna of Belgium [První nález netopýra severního (Eptesicus nilssonii) v Belgii]. Lynx, new series. Prague: National Museum, 1998, 29(1), 97–98. ISSN 0024-7774 (print), 1804-6460 (online). Also available from: https://www.nm.cz/en/periodicals/lns/29-1/the-northern-bat-eptesicus-nilssonii-a-new-species-for-the-bat-fauna-of-belgium-prvni-nalez-netopyra-severniho-eptesicus-nilssonii-v-belgii

Lynx, new series | 1998/29/1

The northern bat, Eptesicus nilssonii (Keyserling et Blasius, 1839), occurs mainly in the northern, central and eastern parts of Europe. Individual records were reported also from western and southwestern Germany, Switzerland, and eastern France (e. g. Moeschler et al. 1986, Hommay et al. 1989, Skiba 1989, Mitchel-Jones et al. in press). However, the species has not yet been reported from Belgium (Fairon et al. 1982, Cakenberghe & Lefevre 1990). In central Europe, the northern bat prefers montane forest areas and frequently inhabits various shelters in buildings (e. g. Spitzenberger 1986, Skiba 1989, Zukal & Gaisler 1989). On June 27, 1998, an individual of the northern bat (Eptesicus nilssonii) was observed in a daytime shelter at the village of Fenffe (Houyet), 35 km south of Namur (Namur Province), southern Belgium. The locality (150 m a. s. l.) is situated inside a woodland area of piedmont of the Ardens Mts. The bat was hidden in a fissure between the small metal roof and the wall of the building situated in the periphery of the village. The individual occuppied this roost probably more days, according to droppings found under the shelter. The sex of the animal was not determined, because the bat escaped. The occurrence of Eptesicus nilssonii in Fenffe (Houyet) represents not only the first finding of this species in Belgium, but also one of the westernmost findings in Europe.