Greater Mouse-eared Bat
EN

Greater Mouse-eared Bat

Myotis myotis

UnknownLCEULCEU

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greater_mouse-eared_bat

Overview

The greater mouse-eared bat is a European species of bat in the family Vespertilionidae.

The Greater Mouse-eared Bat faces severe population declines primarily due to habitat loss from agricultural intensification and urban development, which eliminates foraging areas and roost sites. Disturbance and destruction of critical roosting sites in caves, buildings, and other structures, combined with pesticide use that reduces insect prey availability, have contributed to significant range contractions across Europe.

Threat summary

Habitat

The greater mouse-eared bat can be found throughout Europe, with populations in most European countries except Ireland, Denmark, Latvia, Estonia, Finland and the Scandinavian Peninsula. It is also found on many Mediterranean islands, such as Sicily, Malta, and the Gymnesian Islands. In the Middle East, Myotis myotis has been found in Turkey, Israel, Syria, Jordan and Lebanon. It possibly lives in...

TERRESTRIAL· major

Other threatened species in Vespertilionidae

Pond BatVU

Pond Bat

Myotis dasycneme

Unknown
Geoffroy's BatVU

Geoffroy's Bat

Myotis emarginatus

Unknown
Serotine BatVU

Serotine Bat

Eptesicus serotinus

Unknown
Lesser noctuleCR

Lesser noctule

Nyctalus leisleri

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Greater Mouse-eared Bat classified as Endangered?
Greater Mouse-eared Bat is classified as Endangered — facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild — because population numbers are declining steeply and key habitats are under sustained pressure. The Greater Mouse-eared Bat faces severe population declines primarily due to habitat loss from agricultural intensification and urban development, which eliminates foraging areas and roost sites. Disturbance and destruction of critical roosting sites in caves, buildings, and other structures, combined with pesticide use that reduces insect prey availability, have contributed to significant range contractions across Europe.
Where does Greater Mouse-eared Bat live?
Greater Mouse-eared Bat occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Greater Mouse-eared Bat?
The main threats to Greater Mouse-eared Bat are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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