Bats of Málaga
Málaga’s biodiversity takes flight at night.
From the mountains to the coast, bats connect caves, forests, rivers and cities. These flying mammals locate their prey using ultrasound and contribute to natural insect control. Their conservation depends on three essentials: safe roosts, food and connected landscapes.
Species recorded in the province of Málaga
One province, many ways to live after dark. These 20 species have provincial records in conservation and monitoring sources.
Horseshoe bats
- Greater horseshoe bat — Rhinolophus ferrumequinum
- Lesser horseshoe bat — Rhinolophus hipposideros
- Mediterranean horseshoe bat — Rhinolophus euryale
- Mehely’s horseshoe bat — Rhinolophus mehelyi
Mouse-eared bats
- Greater mouse-eared bat — Myotis myotis
- Lesser mouse-eared bat — Myotis blythii
- Geoffroy’s bat — Myotis emarginatus
- Escalera’s bat — Myotis escalerai
- Daubenton’s bat — Myotis daubentonii
- Long-fingered bat — Myotis capaccinii
Pipistrelles, noctules and other species
- Common pipistrelle — Pipistrellus pipistrellus
- Soprano pipistrelle — Pipistrellus pygmaeus
- Kuhl’s pipistrelle — Pipistrellus kuhlii
- Savi’s pipistrelle — Hypsugo savii
- Isabelline serotine — Cnephaeus isabellinus (Eptesicus isabellinus)
- Leisler’s bat — Nyctalus leisleri
- Greater noctule — Nyctalus lasiopterus
- Grey long-eared bat — Plecotus austriacus
- Schreiber’s bent-winged bat — Miniopterus schreibersii
- European free-tailed bat — Tadarida teniotis
Safe roosts. Living landscapes. Dark nights.
- Protect roosts. Preserve caves, trees with cavities and access to colonies in buildings. Check for bats before carrying out work.
- Maintain food and connectivity. Riverbanks, hedges and native vegetation provide insects and commuting routes. Reduce insecticide use.
- Preserve darkness. Avoid lighting roost entrances, waterways and vegetation corridors.
- Monitor to conserve. Colony monitoring and bioacoustics help detect changes and evaluate conservation measures.
Have you found a bat?
Do not touch it with bare hands. Keep children and pets away and contact a wildlife rescue centre or environmental officers. SECEMU recommendations.
Learn, take part and conserve
Understanding bats is the first step. Protecting their habitats makes the difference.
At MuMa, we combine monitoring, bioacoustics and environmental education to turn knowledge into conservation.