Plecotus austriacus in the valley of the Kilchen river (left bank of the Dnipro), a new stage of expansion to the East

Abstract

A new record of the grey long-eared bat (Plecotus austriacus) in Left-bank Ukraine, in the lower course of the Kilchen river (Dnipropetrovsk region) is described. This bat was found in a cellar in Spasske village, Novomoskovsk district in the pre-wintering period (02.11.2016) close to hibernation state. Morphological characteristics of the identified individual and the conditions in the wintering site are presented. The record locality of the specimen is shown within the current distribution range of the species in Ukraine. The finding confirms the eastward range expansion of Plecotus austriacus and its predisposition to synanthropy. It is proposed to add the species to the Red Data Book of Dnipropetrovsk region and to the checklist of mammal species of Steppe Dnipro Region.

Keywords

• Gray long-eared bat
• Plecotus austriacus
• distribution range
• Steppe Dnipro Region