CAVE ANIMAL OF THE YEAR
CAVE ANIMAL OF THE YEAR
The initiative “GREECE – Cave Animal of the Year” is a contribution to the effort to inform and raise public awareness about the amazing creatures of our country’s underground environment. Greece started this effort in 2021 -the International Year of Caves and Karst- to join the international awareness efforts initiated by Germany and expanded with the participation of other countries.
Detailed information on all cavernicolous animal species in Greece can be found in the Cave Fauna of Greece Database: https://database.inspee.gr/
The Schreiber’s Bent-Winged Bat is easily distinguishable from other bat species found in Greece due to its prominent high-domed forehead, short and triangular ears, short nose, and elongated wings.
The Schreiber’s Bent-Winged Bat, once regarded as a cosmopolitan species, is now confined to the Mediterranean region. The populations of this species are found in southern Europe, northwest Africa, and extreme West Asia. They are occasionally seen in western Turkey, Georgia, and Russia.
