IDENTITY RECORD

Daubenton’s Bat

SCIENTIFIC NAME

Myotis daubentonii

DescrIption

I measure between 43 and 55 mm long with a wingspan of between 240 and 275 mm. I weigh between 6.5 and 12 g. The fur on my back is short, dense and brown, while the fur on my stomach is much lighter.

Lifestyle

Diet

I eat insects, especially mosquitoes, which I catch when they are flying or resting on the water’s surface.

Breeding

Mating takes place from August. Maternity colonies form from mid-March but bats do not give birth until early June (one pup a year).

LifespaN

My life expectancy is 4.5 years.

Where and when can you find me in the reserve?

habitat

I am a forest species and live inside tree cavities in summer. I have to live near lakes and rivers to hunt. In winter, I find an underground shelter (cellar, cave, tunnel or blockhouse) to hibernate.

When to spot me

I am active after nightfall, between mid-March and mid-November.

Did you know?

To catch the insects floating to the water’s surface, I use my mouth, a wing, my uropatagium[1] or even my big feet to hook my prey.

Mistaken identity

You might confuse me with other small species of bat such as the Myotis genus. You can tell us apart by my big feet and rounded tragi[2].

Conservation statuts

• Red list of continental mammals in metropolitan France: Least Concern (LC).
• Red list of threatened mammals in Alsace: Least Concern (LC).

[1] A membrane that extends between the bat’s thighs and tail. Its function is to steer the animal in flight and is used by insectivores to catch prey.

[2] A small pointed piece of cartilage and skin located just in front of the ear canal.