Serotine bat  (Eptesicus serotinus)

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

Range

Occurs throughout much of continental Europe, extending as far north as southern Sweden, southern England and Denmark, and south to the Mediterranean and Balkans (2). In Great Britain it occurs roughly to the south of a line drawn between south Wales and The Wash (5); it is abundant in Sussex and Dorset, but very rare in Wales, and it is not known if the population is declining or stable (6).

You can view distribution information for this species at the National Biodiversity Network Gateway.

Habitat

Occurs mainly in lowland areas, where there are human settlements. This species has become very well adapted to man-made roosting sites, so much so that it is now only rarely found in natural sites (7). In summer they roost in buildings that have high gables and cavity walls, they are thought to typically remain in the same building to hibernate during winter. Some hibernating serotines have been found in caves, but this is rare (5).

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