Botta’s serotine  (Eptesicus bottae)

Classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List (1).

Named after the man who first discovered the species (3), Botta’s serotine is a small bat with short, white fur on the underside and browner hairs across most of the face and back, with a patch of dark, naked skin running from the snout, along the muzzle to the eyes (4). Botta’s serotine displays a wide range of body sizes and colouration, depending on the region it is from. Some of these variants, such as those found in Egypt, are considered subspecies (5), while other populations, such as those in Turkey and northern Syria, are considered by some scientists to be entirely separate species (1). 

The range of Botta’s serotine extends from the eastern Mediterranean, south to Egypt and the Arabian Peninsula, and east to central Asia, India, and north-western China (1) (2).

Botta’s serotine is found in almost all habitats except for true desert, including cultivated areas of eucalyptus, date groves, ponds, riversides and mountains, up to an altitude of 3,400 metres (2). It roosts in crevices found in buildings and ruins, as well as natural cracks in rocks (1).

A nocturnal bat, Botta’s serotine leaves its roost at dusk to hunt insects using echolocation (6), a remarkable method of navigation in which the bat produces sounds, or clicks, which reflect off surrounding objects and are picked up again by the bat’s ears. The time it takes for the sound to return reveals the size and location of objects in the bat’s surroundings (7).

Little is known about the reproductive cycle of Botta’s serotine, but generally bats have one, or occasionally two, pups a year (8); a female Botta’s serotine has been found carrying two developing embryos (3). Surprisingly for their small size, bats generally have relatively long life-spans (8); the life-span of this species may be similar to the closely related serotine bat (Eptesicus serotinus) which is known to live up to 19 years (9).

As Botta’s serotine is often found inhabiting crevices in ruins, the decrease in the number of ruins and the disturbance of many others by tourists may be affecting this species in certain areas, although this is not considered to be a major threat to the species at present (1).

Botta’s serotine is one of the species protected through Eurobats, the Agreement on the Conservation of Populations of European Bats (10). This agreement aims to protect European bat species through legislation, education and conservation measures (10). 

View information on this species at the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre.

Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi is a principal sponsor of ARKive. EAD is working to protect and conserve the environment as well as promoting sustainable development in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.

To find out about efforts to conserve bats around the world see:

• Bat Conservation International:
  http://www.batcon.org
• Bat Conservation Trust:
  http://www.bats.org.uk