Serotine Cnephaeus serotinus (formerly Eptesicus serotinus)
A large, broad-winged bat that typically emerges at or just after dusk to forage methodically along woodland edges, hedgerows and around street lighting. Dark brown fur on the back with a pale yellowish-brown underside; dark brown face, ears and wing membranes; large, strong teeth adapted to the hard-bodied beetles that form a significant part of its diet. One of the more frequently recorded large bats in Suffolk. Image: © angel_trres, iNaturalist.
Find out more: Bat Conservation Trust, Suffolk Wildlife Trust, iNaturalist, The Mammal Society, Suffolk LNRS information page
Post-1994 distribution maps (tetrad)
Suffolk’s Priority Bat Species
Key
Listed as a conservation priority in Suffolk’s Biodiversity Action Plan.
Closely associated with Suffolk’s landscape and natural identity.
Identified as a key priority for recovery under Suffolk’s Local Nature Recovery Strategy.
Has a Species of the Month article attached.
2025 Fact Sheet