{{Short description|Species of bat}} {{Speciesbox | name = Meridional serotine | status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 19 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=Juste, J. |date=2016 |title=''Eptesicus isabellinus'' |volume=2016 |article-number=e.T85200107A85200275 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T85200107A85200275.en |access-date=19 November 2021}}</ref> | image = Eptesicus isabellinus 259300.jpg | image_alt = The image is a drawing of a meridional serotine bat | genus = Eptesicus | species = isabellinus | authority = Temminck, 1840 | synonyms = {{Species list |Vespertilio isabellinus|Temminck, 1840 |Eptesicus serotinus isabellinus|David Harrison, 1963}} | range_map = Eptesicus isabellinus range Map.png | range_map_caption = Range of the meridional serotine }}
The '''meridional serotine''' ('''''Eptesicus isabellinus''''') is a species of bat native to the Iberian Peninsula, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Libya.
==Taxonomy and etymology== The taxonomic status of ''Eptesicus isabellinus'' has been revised several times since its initial description. This species was initially described in 1840 by Dutch zoologist Coenraad Jacob Temminck. He placed it in the genus ''Vespertilio'', naming it ''Vespertilio isabellinus''.<ref name="Temmick 1840">{{cite book|last=Temminck| first= C. J.| date= 1840| title= Monographies de mammalogie, ou Description de quelques genres de mammifères, dont les espèces ont été observées dans les différens musées de l'Europe|volume=2|pages=205–206| publisher= G. Dufour et E. d'Ocagne| url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=chi.37465248;view=1up;seq=215| access-date=October 12, 2017}}</ref> In 1887, French zoologist Fernand Lataste intimated that he believed that the meridional serotine was a subspecies of the serotine bat, ''Eptesicus serotinus'', per Harrison 1963.<ref name="Harrison 1963">{{cite journal| last=Harrison| first=D. L. |date=1963| title= Observations on the North African serotine bat, Eptesicus serotinus isabellinus (Temminck, 1840)(Mammalia: Chiroptera)| journal=Rijksmuseum van Natuurlijke Historie| volume=38| issue=12| url=http://arno.uva.nl/cgi/arno/show.cgi?fid=150477| access-date=October 12, 2017}}</ref><ref name="Lataste 1887">{{cite journal|last=Lataste|first=F.|date=1887|title=Description d'une nouvelle espece de Chiroptere d'Egypte| journal=Annali del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Genova| volume=24| pages=625–630}}</ref> In 1963, David Harrison determined that morphologically, ''Eptesicus isabellinus'' was indistinguishable from ''Eptesicus serotinus'', and suggested that its name should be ''Eptesicus serotinus isabellinus'' to recognize it as a subspecies of the latter.<ref name="Harrison 1963"/>
In 2006, Ibáñez and others examined the mitochondrial DNA of several members of the European ''Eptesicus'' species, finding considerable genetic diversity. They concluded that ''Eptesicus serotinus'' was a species complex of morphologically similar but genetically distinct species.<ref name="Ibanez 2006">{{cite journal| last1=Ibáñez |first1=C. |last2=García-Mudarra| first2=J. L.| last3=Ruedi| first3=M.| last4=Stadelmann| first4=B.| last5=Juste| first5=J.| date=2006|title= The Iberian contribution to cryptic diversity in European bats| journal=Acta Chiropterologica| volume= 8|issue=2| pages= 277–297| url=https://www.academia.edu/6470682| access-date=October 12, 2017|doi=10.3161/1733-5329(2006)8[277:TICTCD]2.0.CO;2 |hdl=10261/48653 | hdl-access=free}}</ref> They recommended that ''Eptesicus serotinus isabellinus'' should be elevated to a species, suggesting a reversion to the name ''Eptesicus isabellinus'' if the population of southern Iberia represented the same species as the population of northern Africa (formerly ''Eptesicus serotinus boscai''), which it did.<ref name="Ibanez 2006"/> In 2013, another study was published on the genetics of ''Eptesicus isabellinus'', which further supported its elevation to species rank.<ref name="Juste 2013">{{cite journal| last1=Juste| first1= J.| last2=Benda| first2=P.| last3=Garcia-Mudarra| first3= J. L.| last4=Ibanez| first4= C. |date=2013| title= Phylogeny and systematics of Old World serotine bats (genus Eptesicus, Vespertilionidae, Chiroptera): an integrative approach| journal=Zoologica Scripta| volume=42| issue=5| pages= 441–457|doi=10.1111/zsc.12020| hdl= 10261/80441| hdl-access=free}}</ref>
Its species name ''isabellinus'' is a Neo-Latin rendering of isabelline, which means pale yellow in color. In his initial description of the species, Temmick described its fur color as "a beautiful shade of isabella."<ref name="Temmick 1840"/>
==Description== The forearm is {{convert|51|mm|in|abbr=on}} long, and the hind foot is {{convert|11.6-11.8|mm|in|abbr=on}} long. It has long, silky hair on its back, with individual hairs {{convert|8|mm|in|abbr=on}} long.<ref name="Harrison 1963"/> Hairs on its belly are shorter, at {{convert|6|mm|in|abbr=on}} long. It can be distinguished from the closely related serotine bat by its yellowish brown fur, which is much lighter than that of the serotine bat.<ref name="Ibanez 2006"/> The internal margin of the ear is convex; ears are rounded at the tip. The tragus is blunt at the tip. The feet are large with brown claws and hairy toes.<ref name="Harrison 1963"/>
==Biology== It is insectivorous, feeding on beetles, moths, and flies.<ref name="iucn status 19 November 2021" /> Important prey items include scarab beetles and various flies.<ref name="Lison 2015">{{cite journal|last1=Lisón |first1=F.| last2=López-Espinosa| first2= J. A.| last3= Calvo| first3= J. F.| last4=Jones| first4= G.|date= 2015| title= Diet of the meridional serotine Eptesicus isabellinus in an urban semiarid Mediterranean landscape| journal=Acta Chiropterologica|issue= 17| volume=2| pages= 371–378 |doi=10.3161/15081109ACC2015.17.2.013 }}</ref> Females will form maternity colonies, consisting of 20-100 individuals.<ref name="iucn status 19 November 2021" />
==Habitat and range== It has been documented in Spain, Portugal, Gibraltar, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya. It has not been documented at elevations over {{convert|1800|m|ft|abbr=on}}. During the day, it will roost in rock crevices, bridges, and buildings. It is tolerant of a wide range of climates and habitats, including semi-desert, temperate forest, shrubland, suburbs, and subtropical dry forest. It prefers to forage over open habitats such as pastures and gardens.<ref name="iucn status 19 November 2021" />
==Conservation== It is currently evaluated as least concern by the IUCN. In some areas of southern Spain, it is considered one of the most common species of bat.<ref name="iucn status 19 November 2021" />
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Vespertilionidae|V.|E.}} {{Taxonbar|from=Q5834973}}
Category:Eptesicus Category:Taxa named by Coenraad Jacob Temminck Category:Bats of Europe Category:Bats of Africa Category:Mammals described in 1840