CHIROPTERA

CHIROPTERA, an order of mammals. There are 18 known families with more than 900 species. There are 12 species of bats suborders in the RB. Their body length varies from 3.8 (common pipistrelle) to 7.5 cm (serotine bat). Their forelimbs are skinny wings. Lesser noctule inhabits the territory of the Bashkirsky Nature Reserve and the S part of Zilairskoye Plateau, mouse‑eared bats are found all over the territory of the RB, and big brown bats inhabit predominantly the Bashkir Trans‑Urals in the S part of the Bashkir           (Southern) Urals, pipistrelles inhabit the Southern Bashkir piedmont of the Urals. They eat insects, some aquatic invertebrates and small fish, catching prey right in the air. Lesser noctule, whiskered bat, Daubenton’s bat, Natterer’s bat, pond bat, Nathusins‘ pipistrelle, common pipistrelle, long‑eared bat, and northern bat are included in The Red List of the RB.