Lutra 60(1)_Mostert & Bekker_2017

First record of Geoffroy’s bat (Myotis emarginatus) in the province of Zeeland, the Netherlands

On 23 December 2016, during the annual winter census of hibernating bats in Haamstede, province of Zeeland, a Geoffroy’s bat (Myotis emarginatus) was encountered. The specimen had chosen a horizontal niche in a relatively dry casemate in the forest around the castle of Haamstede (figure 1). The medium-sized bat showed several characteristics that are typical for the species: a rhomboid outline, a warm yellow-brown coloured fur and relatively small feet and long ears, which drop down almost perpendicularly; the ears’ lateral margins showed an almost rectangular notch (see left ear in figure 1). The winter census in Haamstede was first accomplished in 1982-1983 and 1983-1984 by Gerhard Glas and Gerard Slob and has since 1985-1986 been repeated every year (Bekker & Mostert 1995) up till now. This is the first observation of Geoffroy’s bat in Haamstede as well as in the province of Zeeland. ....