The Mediterranean long-eared bat (''Plecotus kolombatovici''), also known as Kolombatovic's long-eared bat, is a

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

of vesper bat ranging from

Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical ...

east through the

Balkans The Balkans ( ), also known as the Balkan Peninsula, is a geographical area in southeastern Europe with various geographical and historical definitions. The region takes its name from the Balkan Mountains that stretch throughout the who ...

east to Syria, and south to

Jordan Jordan ( ar, الأردن; tr. ' ), officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan,; tr. ' is a country in Western Asia. It is situated at the crossroads of Asia, Africa, and Europe, within the Levant region, on the East Bank of the Jordan Rive ...

Taxonomy

The species was described by Dulić in 1980, following the identification of small bats from the

Plecotus ''Plecotus'' is a genus of vesper bat, commonly called long-eared bats. They are found throughout Eurasia and northern Africa. Many species in the genus have only been described and recognized in recent years. Species Genus ''Plecotus'' – lon ...

genus in Croatia. However, until 2010, the qualification of ''P.kolombatovici'' as species was subject to doubt. Specimens of ''Plecotus sp.'' were analysed in North Africa, the Canary Islands, and Asia over a period of years, and it was proposed that all the specimens were subspecies of the same species, ''Plecotus teneriffae''. However, the most recent studies confirm the status of species for ''P. kolombatovici.'' As several species of Plecotus can be leaving in sympatry in a same region, a clear identification of specimen can be very difficult.

Distribution

So far, ''P.kolombatovici'' has been recorded in

Albania Albania ( ; sq, Shqipëri or ), or , also or . officially the Republic of Albania ( sq, Republika e Shqipërisë), is a country in Southeastern Europe. It is located on the Adriatic and Ionian Seas within the Mediterranean Sea and shares ...

Croatia , image_flag = Flag of Croatia.svg , image_coat = Coat of arms of Croatia.svg , anthem = "Lijepa naša domovino"("Our Beautiful Homeland") , image_map = , map_caption = , capit ...

and

Greece Greece,, or , romanized: ', officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the southern tip of the Balkans, and is located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Greece shares land borders ...

, as well as

and parts of the

Middle East The Middle East ( ar, الشرق الأوسط, ISO 233: ) is a geopolitical region commonly encompassing Arabia (including the Arabian Peninsula and Bahrain), Asia Minor (Asian part of Turkey except Hatay Province), East Thrace (Europ ...

. This species is often found in the islands of the Adriatic sea,Théou, P., & Loçe, E. 2017. but also inland with a recorded presence in most of Greece. In Albania, many specimens were found in former bunkers on the

Sazan Island Sazan ( sq-definite, Sazani) is an Albanian uninhabited island in the Mediterranean Sea. The largest of Albania's islands, it is a designated military exclusion zone; it lies in a strategically important location between the Strait of Otranto a ...

References

Literature cited

* Dietz, C. & von Helversen, O. 2004
Illustrated identification key to the bats of Europe.
Tuebingen & Erlangen, Germany. * Théou, P., & Loçe, E. 2017
First data on bats (Chiroptera) for Vlora bay and Sazan Island, Albania.
Journal of Bat Research & Conservation 10(1). * Tvrtkovic, N., Pavlinic, I., & Haring, E. (2005
Four species of long-eared bats (Plecotus, Geoffroy, 1818; Mammalia, Vespertilionidae) in Croatia: field identification and distribution
Folia zoologica, 54(1/2), 75. {{Taxonbar, from=Q805029 kolombatovici Bats of Europe Bats of Asia Fauna of the Balkans Mammals described in 1980