Greater mouse-eared bat  (Myotis myotis)

Learn about the scientific name of this species and how it fits into the tree of life at Nature Navigator.

Threats

The greater mouse-eared bat was only discovered in Britain in 1958, and the last specimen was recorded in 1990. It is not clear why it became extinct in Britain although it is known never to have been a common animal.

One possibility is that the nursery roosts of this bat were subject to disturbance and destruction. They are extremely susceptible to the chemicals used to treat timber roofs (as are all bats), and it is possible that this process destroyed their maternity roosts.

Conservation

As this bat has been extinct in the UK for some years, work on conserving it has concentrated on preparing a plan should it ever re-colonise the British Isles. There are regular surveys of its former sites, and, as a commitment to this species, the greater mouse-eared bat is still listed in the UK Biodiversity Action Plans (UK BAPs).

View information on this species at the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre.
The UK Biodiversity Action Plan for this species is available at UK BAP.
There may be further information about this species available via the National Biodiversity Network Gateway.
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