This selection of Irish animals, native or introduced, is taken from the Appletree Press title Animals of Ireland. There will be a number of extracts from the book in coming months. The book contains highly detailed full colour illustrations to complement the detailed explanatory text.

Leisler's Bat
Nyctalus leisleri
Ialtóg Leisler

Though no more than a small/medium bat by European standards, the Leisler's is the largest found in Ireland. It is about three times the weight of the Lesser-horseshoe and its flight dimensions are: wingspan 33 cm (13 inches); width 10 cm (4 inches). It is a thickly furred, dark brown bat with a conventional-looking mammal face, lacking a nose-leaf. The ears are large and broad and contain a club-shaped element or 'tragus'. The size, head shape and particularly the ear structure make identification of this bat straightforward.

Leisler's bats roost in dense groups in the attics of buildings and hibernate in holes in trees or crevices in undisturbed ruins or other buildings. Some colonies are large, such as one of a thousand in West Cork.

As with the Lesser-horseshoe, Ireland has a special responsibility for this bat. It is likely that Ireland is their European stronghold.

Other Flying Mammals from Animals of Ireland include:
Daubenton's Bat |
Lesser-horseshoe Bat |
Long-eared Bat |
Natterer's Bat |
Pipistrelle |
Whiskered Bat