Near or far: revision of distribution, breeding and winter ranges of two sibling <i>Pipistrellus</i> species (Chiroptera, Vespertilionidae) in Eastern Europe and the Caucasus
Journal: Mammal Review
Year: 2024

Abstract Knowledge of species distribution and, for migratory species, seasonal occurrence is particularly important for vulnerable and protected animals such as bats. The former European bat species Pipistrellus pipistrellus was split into two, Pipistrelus pipistrellus s.s. and Pipistrelus pygmaeus , over 20 years ago. However, their distribution, breeding and winter ranges as well as migratory status in Eastern Europe and the Caucasus remained obscure. In our study, we scrutinised records of b