A fascinating and graceful species of bat found across southern Europe, the Middle East, and parts of North Africa. Named for its unusually long and slender fingers, which support its wide, delicate wings, this bat is a master of aerial fishing, skimming over water surfaces to catch insects—and even small fish—with astonishing precision. Its combination of elegance, intelligence, and specialized hunting skills makes the long-fingered bat one of nature’s most intriguing nocturnal predators.
Physically, the long-fingered bat is medium-sized compared to other Myotis species. Its fur is soft and silky, usually grayish-brown on top and paler underneath, blending beautifully into the twilight skies and limestone caves where it roosts. Its name comes from its elongated third finger, which gives its wings an extended reach and extra flexibility—crucial for its signature hunting technique. Its face is gentle and compact, with small eyes and large, sensitive ears that help it detect the faintest ripples or sounds of prey on the water’s surface. This extraordinary precision is made possible by echolocation, which the bat uses not only to navigate in complete darkness but also to locate tiny insects or fish movements on rivers and lakes.
While most bats feed exclusively on flying insects, this species is known to scoop small fish, aquatic insects, and larvae directly from the surface of the water using its long claws and agile flight. It’s sometimes called the “fishing bat” because of this remarkable skill. Scientists have observed it flying low over calm waters at night, using its echolocation to detect ripples, then dipping its feet or wing membranes to snatch prey. Its flexible wing design allows for sudden, precise maneuvers just above the surface—an impressive feat for such a small animal. When not hunting, the long-fingered bat roosts in caves, tunnels, or old stone structures, often forming colonies of several dozen to a few hundred individuals.
Distribution
Albania
Algeria
Andorra
Bosnia And Herz.
Bulgaria
Croatia
Cyprus
France
Greece
Holy See
Iran
Iraq
Israel
Italy
Jordan
Lebanon
Montenegro
Morocco
North Macedonia
Romania
Serbia
Slovenia
Spain
Switzerland
Official estimate
Syria
TurkeyAnything we've missed?
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Terrestrial / Aquatic
Altricial / Precocial
Polygamous / Monogamous
Dimorphic (size) / Monomorphic
Active: Diurnal / Nocturnal
Social behavior: Solitary / Pack / Colony
Diet: Carnivore / Herbivore / Omnivore / Piscivorous / Insectivore
Migratory: Yes / No
Domesticated: Yes / No
Dangerous: Yes / No
