Nathusius' pipistrelle in Great Britain & Ireland

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Identification - General

General

Nathusius' pipistrelle is a small species in comparison to other UK and Irish species. The upper fur is longer and shaggier than that of soparono and common pipistrelles, occasionally with pale frosted tips, but generally mid-brown. The under fur distinctly pale. The face, ears and membranes generally dark. Ears are medium sized and rounded - slightly longer than broad witha tragus that has a distinctly blunt rounded tip, about four times as long as broad and curved forward; The calcar reaches about half way to tail and a distinct post-calcarial lobe is present. The thumb has a claw that is equal to or greater than the width of closed wrist. The dorsal surface of the tail membrane is well haired on the basal half and beside the tibia. The fur on the underside of the tail membrane sometimes extends obviously along forearm to wrist (based on Greenaway & Hutson, 1990).

 

Compared to the common and soprano pipistrelles, Nathusius' pipistrelles are significantly larger overall. This is especially obvious for pregnant females. The image on the left show a Nathusius' pipistrelle (left) next to a soprano pipistrelle (right). Hair covering the upper surface of the tail membrane

Nathusius' pipistrelles often 'play dead' when handled (see right). This is often observed for both this species and for common pipistrelles, but not so much for soprano pipistrelles.

In males, the penis is distinctly bulbous and often has a white fringe of hairs (see left).

For comparison, the image on the left shows the common pipistrelle................. ...................and here we have the soprano pipistrelle.

 

 
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