Kingdom Animalia Order Chiroptera Genus Rhinolophus Higher classification Rhinolophus | Phylum Chordata Family Rhinolophidae Scientific name Rhinolophus mehelyi Rank Species | |
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Similar Mediterranean horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus, Blasius's horseshoe bat, Horseshoe bat, Long‑fingered bat | ||
Mehely's horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus mehelyi) is a species of bat in the family Rhinolophidae found in eastern Europe and parts of the Middle East.
Contents
Description
The bat is medium-sized for a member of the Rhinolophus genus, with pale lips and grey-brown ears and flight membranes. The fur is relatively thick, with the base of hairs grey-white. Ventral fur is almost white, while dorsal fur is grey-brown; the line between the dorsal and ventral sides is relatively sharp.
Habitat
The bat is cave-dwelling, preferring areas of limestone with nearby water. It has been known to roost in caves with other horseshoe bats, hanging free on the cave roof.
Hunting
The bat emerges at dusk, hunting low over the ground on warm hillsides and also among bushes and trees, preying on moths and other insects.
Echolocation
The constant frequency sound is between 105 and 112 kHz, with a short drop in frequency at the end of the signal, which normally lasts between 20 and 30 milliseconds. There is some frequency overlap with the lesser horseshoe bat and the Mediterranean horseshoe bat.
Mating and Selection
A behavioral study conducted by Puechmaille et. al. (2014) revealed that the peak frequencies of echolocation calls emitted by male and female Rhinolophus mehelyi accurately reflect their body size and condition. In the experiment, larger males proved to have higher call frequencies that attracted females twice as often as males with lower call frequencies. In contrast, males appeared to choose females at random. This distinction suggests that females choose males based on their call frequency for the indirect benefits of having healthier and fitter offspring. The mating system is therefore comparable to a lek, making female mate choice a selection factor in the evolution of call frequency in males that may counter other selection pressures imposed by their ecological niche.