Rhinolophidae

Description

Horseshoe bats are characterised by their distinctive horseshoe-shaped noseleaves. They use an echolocation system that differs from that of all other bat families. Although they produce ultrasonic calls in the larynx, these calls are emitted through the nose at a constant frequency that is characteristic of each species, while the returning echoes are received through the ears. They are cave-dwelling bats and are therefore always associated with large underground spaces, buildings (particularly traditional farmhouses) and caves.

In Europe his family includes the following five species: the greater horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum), the lesser horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus hipposideros), the Mediterranean horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus euryale), Mehely’s horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus mehelyi), and Blasius’s horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus blasii).