Grey Long-Eared Bat

The Grey long-eared bat, or Plecotus Austriacus, measures between 30 and 38 mm in length which easily distinguishes it from other species. Its body can reach up to 52 mm in length. In Portugal it is a relatively common species.  It is also present on the island of Madeira and has recently been located on the island of Desertas. The ecology of this species in the archipelago is practically unknown. Limited information indicates that this bat uses small agricultural warehouses for shelter and hunts in wooded laurel areas such as subtropical rainforests. Bats can eat fruits, seeds, leaves, nectar, pollen, arthropods, small vertebrates, fish and blood. Thus, bats contribute substantially to the structure and dynamics of ecosystems, because they act as pollinators, seed dispersers and predators of insects (including agricultural pests). When hunting, bats use an echolocation system that allows them to 'see' their prey in the dark through the echoes of sounds they emit. Their ears are capable of detecting the smallest sounds such as the wing beats of a fly. Grey long-eared bats have relatively large eyes and ears and it is likely that visual information and passive listening allow this species to detect prey in cluttered environments.