Brandt's Bat
Myotis brandtii
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A bat that weighs seven grams and has been recorded living past forty years.
A small bat, very close in appearance to the whiskered bat but usually with slightly glossier, more golden-tipped fur and a paler face and ears. The two were only recognised as distinct species in 1970 and are still frequently recorded together as 'whiskered/Brandt's'. Brandt's bat is more strongly associated with woodland and water than its near-twin, and is thinly recorded across the region.
Behaviour
It hunts small flies and moths in fluttering flight along woodland rides, treelines and over water, gleaning some prey from foliage. Brandt's bats roost in tree holes and buildings and hibernate underground. The species is remarkable for longevity: a ringed individual was recovered at over forty years old, an extraordinary lifespan for a mammal of this size and one that has made these bats a subject of ageing research.
When to see it
Quick facts
- Family
- Vesper bats (Vespertilionidae)
- Size
- Wingspan 21–24 cm · recorded living over 40 years
- UK status
- Protected under UK and European law
Photo by U. Schröter, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons