The Meridional Serotine is the Mediterranean sibling of the Common Serotine. So alike are they in appearance, behaviour, and even echolocation sound that for decades they were considered the same species. Genetic analysis eventually confirmed they were two distinct lineages, having separated hundreds of thousands of years ago. It flies high and fast at dusk over streets and parks in southern European cities, often around streetlights where
The Meridional Serotine is a medium-large bat with light, warm brown fur, somewhat paler than other crepuscular bats of its size. It has short, rounded ears and fast, direct flight in open spaces. It is practically indistinguishable in the hand from the Serotine Bat (Cnephaeus serotinus), its sister species, with which it overlaps in the south of the Iberian Peninsula. Reliable identification between the two often requires genetic analysis.
Peak frequency between 24 and 32 kHz. The pulse is FM-QCF type: it begins with a brief downward sweep that stabilises into an almost constant part. On the detector, this appears as a trace that starts inclined and flattens into a horizontal bar. Long duration, 10-20 milliseconds, with a wide pulse interval typical of open-space flight
Found in urban, suburban, and open agricultural areas of southern Europe and North Africa. It shelters in building crevices, eaves, and tree hollows, from lowlands to mid-mountain areas.
Distributed across the Iberian Peninsula, southern France, and North Africa, in the overlap zone with its sister species from central and northern Europe.
Insectivorous, it primarily hunts medium-large beetles and moths in high, direct flight, often around streetlights and other artificial light sources that concentrate insects.
It forms breeding colonies in cracks in buildings and eaves, showing good tolerance for urban and peri-urban environments. Its high, fast, direct flight makes it less dependent on linear landscape features than other species with slower, more manoeuvrable flight.
Its populations are generally considered stable throughout most of its Mediterranean range, favoured by its good adaptation to urban environments, with no signs of widespread decline.
Restoration and sealing of old buildings eliminates breeding roosts in cracks and eaves. Use of insecticides reduces the availability of large prey. Light pollution alters insect concentration patterns, from which the Meridional Serotine partially benefits.
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