# Meridional serotine > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Meridional_serotine > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Meridional_serotine.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meridional_serotine > Source revision: 1317589486 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|Species of bat}} {{Speciesbox | name = Meridional serotine | status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = {{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}} | image = Eptesicus isabellinus 259300.jpg | image_alt = The image is a drawing of a meridional serotine bat | genus = Eptesicus | species = isabellinus | authority = [Temminck](/source/Coenraad_Jacob_Temminck), 1840 | synonyms = {{Species list |Vespertilio isabellinus|[Temminck](/source/Coenraad_Jacob_Temminck), 1840 |Eptesicus serotinus isabellinus|[David Harrison](/source/David_Harrison_(zoologist)), 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](/source/bat) native to the [Iberian Peninsula](/source/Iberian_Peninsula), [Morocco](/source/Morocco), [Algeria](/source/Algeria), [Tunisia](/source/Tunisia) and [Libya](/source/Libya). ==Taxonomy and etymology== The taxonomic status of ''Eptesicus isabellinus'' has been revised several times since its initial description. This species was initially [described](/source/species_description) in 1840 by Dutch zoologist [Coenraad Jacob Temminck](/source/Coenraad_Jacob_Temminck). He placed it in the genus ''[Vespertilio](/source/Vespertilio)'', naming it ''Vespertilio isabellinus''.{{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}} In 1887, French zoologist [Fernand Lataste](/source/Fernand_Lataste) intimated that he believed that the meridional serotine was a subspecies of the [serotine bat](/source/serotine_bat), ''Eptesicus serotinus'', per 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}}{{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}} In 1963, [David Harrison](/source/David_Harrison_(zoologist)) determined that [morphologically](/source/Morphology_(biology)), ''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. In 2006, Ibáñez and others examined the [mitochondrial DNA](/source/mitochondrial_DNA) of several members of the European ''Eptesicus'' species, finding considerable genetic diversity. They concluded that ''Eptesicus serotinus'' was a [species complex](/source/species_complex) of morphologically similar but genetically distinct species.{{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}} 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](/source/Iberian_Peninsula) represented the same species as the population of northern Africa (formerly ''Eptesicus serotinus boscai''), which it did. In 2013, another study was published on the genetics of ''Eptesicus isabellinus'', which further supported its elevation to species rank.{{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}} Its [species name](/source/Specific_epithet_(zoology)) ''isabellinus'' is a [Neo-Latin](/source/Neo-Latin) rendering of [isabelline](/source/isabelline_(colour)), which means pale yellow in color. In his initial description of the species, Temmick described its fur color as "a beautiful shade of isabella." ==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. Hairs on its belly are shorter, at {{convert|6|mm|in|abbr=on}} long. It can be distinguished from the closely related [serotine bat](/source/serotine_bat) by its yellowish brown fur, which is much lighter than that of the serotine bat. The internal margin of the ear is convex; ears are rounded at the tip. The [tragus](/source/tragus_(ear)) is blunt at the tip. The feet are large with brown claws and hairy toes. ==Biology== It is [insectivorous](/source/insectivore), feeding on [beetles](/source/coleoptera), [moths](/source/lepidoptera), and [flies](/source/diptera). Important prey items include [scarab beetles](/source/scarabaeidae) and various flies.{{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 }} Females will form [maternity colonies](/source/Maternity_colony_(bats)), consisting of 20-100 individuals. ==Habitat and range== It has been documented in [Spain](/source/Spain), [Portugal](/source/Portugal), [Gibraltar](/source/Gibraltar), [Morocco](/source/Morocco), [Algeria](/source/Algeria), [Tunisia](/source/Tunisia), and [Libya](/source/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](/source/Semi-arid_climate), temperate forest, [shrubland](/source/shrubland), [suburb](/source/suburb)s, and subtropical dry forest. It prefers to forage over open habitats such as pastures and gardens. ==Conservation== It is currently evaluated as [least concern](/source/least_concern) by the [IUCN](/source/International_Union_for_Conservation_of_Nature). In some areas of southern Spain, it is considered one of the most common species of bat. ==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 --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Meridional serotine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meridional_serotine) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meridional_serotine?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.