Plecotus macrobullaris

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	MAMMALIA	CHIROPTERA	VESPERTILIONIDAE

Scientific Name:

Plecotus macrobullaris

Species Authority:

Kuzjakin, 1965

Common Name/s:

English	–	Mountain Long-eared Bat
French	–	Oreillard Des Alpes, Oreillard Montagnard
Spanish	–	Orejudo Alpino

Synonym/s:

Spitzenberger, 2002

Plecotus alpinus Keifer & Veith, 2001

Taxonomic Notes:

Described as a subspecies of P. auritus from northern Ossetia, Russia. Its specific status was first recognized for populations of the Alps, which were described as new species: Plecotus alpinus by Kiefer and Veith (2002) and Plecotus microdontus by Spitzenberger et al. (2002). Later it turned out that these names were younger synonyms of P. macrobullaris (Spitzenberger et al. 2003).

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:	Least Concern ver 3.1
Year Assessed:	2008
Assessor/s:	Hutson, A.M., Aulagnier, S., Juste, J., Karataş, A., Palmeirim, J. & Paunović, M.
Reviewer/s:	Hutson, A.M., Racey, P.A. (Chiroptera Red List Authority) & Temple, H. (Global Mammal Assessment Team)
Justification: Least Concern. Although this species appears to be generally uncommon, with a scattered distribution, it has a fairly large global distribution and is not believed to approach any of the thresholds for listing as threatened according to IUCN Red List Criteria. Roosting habitat is declining because of tourism pressure on caves and transformation of buildings in human settlements in the Alps and Pyrenees. This species was described quite recently and is poorly known; more colonies may well be discovered in the future.

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Recorded from the Pyrenees (Andorra, Spain and France); the Alps from France to Slovenia, Dinaric Alps, Greece including Crete; Corsica; from Anatolia through Caucasus to south Iran; and in Syria (Spitzenberger et al. 2006). Altitudinal distribution from sea level to 2,800 m (Garin 2003, Pavlinic and Tvrtkovic 2004).
Countries:	Native: Albania; Andorra; Armenia; Austria; Azerbaijan; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Croatia; France; Georgia; Greece (Kriti); Iran, Islamic Republic of; Italy; Liechtenstein; Montenegro; Russian Federation; Serbia; Slovenia; Spain; Switzerland; Syrian Arab Republic; Turkey
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	This species was only recognised in 2003, and remains quite poorly known. However, it seems to be generally uncommon, with a fragmented distribution. Inidividual colonies are composed of few (less that 50) individuals. Fewer than 50 colonies are known, but more are likely to be discovered in the future (Spitzenberger et al. 2003). Molecular analyses have confirmed that subpopulations from different mountain ranges are genetically isolated (Garin et al. 2003).
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Population:

This species was only recognised in 2003, and remains quite poorly known. However, it seems to be generally uncommon, with a fragmented distribution. Inidividual colonies are composed of few (less that 50) individuals. Fewer than 50 colonies are known, but more are likely to be discovered in the future (Spitzenberger et al. 2003). Molecular analyses have confirmed that subpopulations from different mountain ranges are genetically isolated (Garin et al. 2003).

Population Trend:

Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	Is known from a wide array of habitats. In Croatia it was found in all altitudinal zones from sea level to mountain tops above the tree line. It occupies Mediterranean oak shrub as well as beech and pine forests (Pavlinic and Tvrtkovic 2004). The highest record is 2,800 m (Pyrenees: Garin et al. 2003). In the Eastern Alps maternity roosts are located in attics of churches, winter roosts are not known (Spitzenberger 2002), the highest record here is 1,720 m (Spitzenberger 2006). In the western Alps observed up to 2,800 m and often roosts in churches (S. Aulagnier pers. comm. 2007).
Systems:	Terrestrial

Habitat and Ecology:

Is known from a wide array of habitats. In Croatia it was found in all altitudinal zones from sea level to mountain tops above the tree line. It occupies Mediterranean oak shrub as well as beech and pine forests (Pavlinic and Tvrtkovic 2004). The highest record is 2,800 m (Pyrenees: Garin et al. 2003). In the Eastern Alps maternity roosts are located in attics of churches, winter roosts are not known (Spitzenberger 2002), the highest record here is 1,720 m (Spitzenberger 2006). In the western Alps observed up to 2,800 m and often roosts in churches (S. Aulagnier pers. comm. 2007).

Systems:

Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	In the European and Asian parts of its range, restoration of old buildings and development of tourism infrastructure is causing habitat loss.

Major Threat(s):

In the European and Asian parts of its range, restoration of old buildings and development of tourism infrastructure is causing habitat loss.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	It is protected by national legislation in most range states. There are also international legal obligations for its protection through the Bonn Convention (Eurobats) and Bern Convention in the range states where these apply. It is included in Annex IV of EU Habitats and Species Directive, and there is some habitat protection through Natura 2000. It is present in several national parks. Recommended actions include surveys to better understand the species' distribution, molecular studies on distance between subpopulations, and protection of roosting sites.

Conservation Actions:

It is protected by national legislation in most range states. There are also international legal obligations for its protection through the Bonn Convention (Eurobats) and Bern Convention in the range states where these apply. It is included in Annex IV of EU Habitats and Species Directive, and there is some habitat protection through Natura 2000. It is present in several national parks. Recommended actions include surveys to better understand the species' distribution, molecular studies on distance between subpopulations, and protection of roosting sites.

Citation:	Hutson, A.M., Aulagnier, S., Juste, J., Karataş, A., Palmeirim, J. & Paunović, M. 2008. Plecotus macrobullaris. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 04 February 2012.
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