Horseshoe bats have a horseshoe-shaped fleshy structure called a nose-leaf surrounding the nose, which amplifies the ultrasonic calls that the bat emits when searching for food.

Life span
The maximum recorded age was 21 years.

Statistics
Body length: 3.5-3.9cm, Wingspan: 22-25cm, Weight: 4-9.4g.

Physical Description
Horseshoe bats have a fleshy structure called a nose-leaf surrounding the nose, which amplifies the ultrasonic calls that the bat emits when searching for food. They also have two other muscular structures on the face - the lancet and the sella, which aid in echolocation. Lesser horseshoe bats are very similar in appearance to greater horseshoes, but they are smaller, and the fur is relatively longer and does not have a red hue.

Distribution
They range across Europe and North Africa. They have become extinct in northern England and the north midlands over the last 50 years.

Habitat
Lesser horseshoe bats inhabit open country and partially wooded areas, with suitable roosting sites (caves, buildings, disused mines and sewers).

Diet
They fly close to the ground when hunting, using echolocation to detect prey, and then picking invertebrates off branches and stones. They feed on mosquitoes, gnats, craneflies, lacewings, moths, beetles and spiders.

Behaviour
Lesser horseshoe bats hibernate in caves, tunnels and cellars from September to April. There may be up to 500 animals in a roost, but they tend to hang a short distance away from their neighbours.

The average temperature within a hibernaculum is 6-7 degrees Celsius. They tend to use different roosts in the winter (for hibernation) and in the summer (for breeding), unless the site has a range of temperature choices. Horseshoe bats wrap their wings around their bodies as they roost. They are relatively skilful and fast fliers.

Reproduction
Lesser horseshoe bats mate in the autumn and move to nurseries to give birth in April. The nurseries are sometimes shared with other species of bat including the greater mouse-eared bat and Geoffroy's bat in mainland Europe. Most of the young are born in June and July. The young are weaned after 6-7 weeks and leave the nurseries in August to October.

Conservation status
Lesser horseshoe bats are listed as Vulnerable by the 2000 IUCN Red List. They have become extinct in much of their former range. They are sensitive to disturbance and destruction of their roosts, and the use of insecticides (which kill their prey) has further led to their decline.