New Records of the Western Barbastelle Barbastella barbastellus (Schreber, 1774) and Other Rare Bat Species in Montenegro

The aim of our study was to explore the bat fauna of Montenegro in areas, which have not been previously surveyed. Simultaneous recordings with bat detectors and mist nets were carried out at eight sites scattered around Montenegro. Mist netting resulted in the capture of 70 bats of 16 species: Barbastella barbastellus, Hypsugo savii, Myotis aurascens, M. capaccinii, M. daubentonii, M. emmginatus, M. mystacinus, M. blythii, Miniopterus schreibersii, Nyctalus noctula, Plecotus macrobullaris, Pipistrellus nathusii, P. pipistrellus, Rhinolophus euryale, R. hipposideros and Pspertilio murinus. A total of 317 bat flight passes were recorded, including of four further species: P. kuhlii, P. pygmaeus, Eptesicus serotinus and N. leisleri. Five individuals of baibastclIc (B. barbastellus), captured in the Dunnitor National park in July 2015, included three females, one of which was lactating, confirming the reproduction of this species in Montenegro. This observation is important as the barbastelle is currently considered rare in Europe and is included in Annex II of the EU habitat Directive (92/43/EEC). In addition, three breeding colonies of bats were found: two of R. hipposideros (in a cave near the Dobrilovina Monastery and a barn in the Durmitor National Park) and one of R. euryale (in a cave near Risan).