The Particoloured Bat Vespertilio murinus found in the East Riding of Yorkshire (VC61)

摘要

The Particoloured Bat (Vespertilio murinus) (front cover) is rare throughout its distribution in northern Europe and considered to be migratory throughout its range and a vagrant in the British Isles (Harris and Yalden, 2008). Up until 2000 there wereonly five records from locations in mainland Britain plus two records from the Shetlands and an offshore oilrig (Richardson, 2000). Since 2000 there have been additional mainland records of individuals from the Isle of Wight, 2001 and 2006; Sussex, 2001and 2005; Wiltshire, 2002 and East Yorkshire, 2002. Also over this period there have been three records from North Sea oilrigs off Scotland which attest to the species being a vagrant to Britain. The Particoloured Bat has a striking appearance with broad rounded ears and a short tragus which is broadest towards the tip. The dorsal fur is long and dark with silvery tips, resulting in a rather attractive frosty appearance. In contrast, the ventral fur is a creamy white colour with the chin having a fringe of chestnut brown fur. Altogether this is an exceptionally handsome bat matched only in the UK by the foxy-brown fur of the Noctule (Nyctalus noctula).