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Carnivory in the greater noctule bat (Nyctalus lasiopterus) in Italy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 June 2000

G. Dondini  and
S. Vergari
G. Dondini
Affiliation:
Museo di Storia Naturale, sezione di Zoologia ‘La Specola’, Università di Firenze, Via Romana 17, I-50125 Firenze (Italia)
S. Vergari
Affiliation:
Museo di Storia Naturale, sezione di Zoologia ‘La Specola’, Università di Firenze, Via Romana 17, I-50125 Firenze (Italia)
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Abstract

An analysis of 59 droppings of the greater noctule Nyctalus lasiopterus, collected either during direct handling of the bat or from the bat-boxes used as shelters in the Pian di Novello Natural Reserve (Tuscany, Italy), has shown that it is a partial carnivore. The content of the samples, collected in October and November of 1995 and in September and October of 1996 and 1997, consisted mainly of bird feathers identified as those of the robin Erithacus rubecula and the blue tit Parus caeruleus. The presence of feathers during the 3 consecutive years of the study period confirms that the diet of the greater noctule in this area is not based exclusively on arthropods as was previously suggested.

Keywords

Nyctalus lasiopterusfood habitscarnivory
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Zoology , Volume 251 , Issue 2 , June 2000 , pp. 233 - 236
Copyright
2000 The Zoological Society of London

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