Small sensation – Whiskered bat detected in Klagenfurt

The 25th bat species has now been detected in Carinthia. A colony of whiskered bats was discovered in the European conservation area Lendspitz-Maiernigg in Klagenfurt.

In the course of survey work, employees of the Coordination Office for Bat Protection and Research in Austria (KFFÖ) and the Arge NATURSCHUTZ discovered a bat species in the European protected area Lendspitz-Maiernigg, not only for Carinthia. “Although the first individuals were caught as early as 2020, it took longer before this initial detection could also be genetically verified,” reports Markus Milchram (KFFÖ). Whiskered Bat – Myotis aurascens Kuzjakin Characteristics/characteristics: Colour: base of hair dark; back fur gray with golden tips; belly light gray to white; membranes black to dark brown; ears brown; Tragus light brown to pink Fur: long and curly Ears: medium long, outer ear edge dented Flight membranes: narrow Size: head-torso: 45 – 52 mm Forearm: 32 – 37 mm Wingspan: about 200 mm Weight: 4.5 – 7 g Habitat: very variable habitat; from forests to semi-desert Quarters: crevices in buildings, tree cavities, crevices in rocks and caves Distribution: in western and central Asia and southern and southeastern Europe: Greece, Bulgaria, Serbia, Romania, northern Italy along the Adriatic coast, Hungary, Caucasus But not only that was surprising First detection, but the discovery of a colony, which was achieved using radio telemetry. In addition, the site was in an area that had previously been studied for bat studies. “In times of biodiversity crisis, this discovery is very important. You can only protect what you know,” emphasizes bat protector Klaus Krainer. Bats play an important role in our ecosystems. In recent years, populations of some bat species seem to be recovering. But this positive trend could be reversed very quickly as a result of insect deaths, global warming and the progressive intensification of agriculture and forestry.
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