You’re walking at dusk when a shadow silently flits by. Ghost? Vampire? Something out of a horror film? Not quite!
That mysterious silhouette in the sky is likely a long-eared bat (Plecotus gaisleri), one of Malta’s lesser-known nocturnal residents and a protected species found right here on the islands.
Often misunderstood and unfairly linked with eerie myths, bats are actually fascinating, beneficial creatures. In fact, Malta is home to several species of microbats – small, insect-eating mammals that rely on echolocation to navigate and hunt in total darkness. Think of echolocation as nature’s sonar: by emitting high-frequency sounds and listening to the echoes that bounce back, these tiny acrobats build a mental map of their surroundings with incredible precision.
The long-eared bat has an added superpower: its enormous ears, which allow it to pick up even the faintest rustle of an insect’s wings. Stealthy, agile, and highly attuned to their environment, they are night flyers at their finest.
Despite their reputation in folklore as bloodsuckers or bad omens, bats are anything but. They’re the only mammals capable of true flight, and their unique immune systems allow them to host viruses without getting sick themselves, making them of great scientific interest.
Even more importantly, they play a crucial role in ecosystems by controlling insect populations, helping to naturally balance biodiversity.
This particular long-eared bat is just one of the many fascinating creatures being showcased in a brand-new hall at Mdina’s National Museum of History dedicated to mammals, currently under construction and soon to be unveiled. Whether you're curious about Malta’s natural wildlife or just love discovering the unexpected, this upcoming exhibit promises to shed new light on the often-overlooked animals that share our environment.
So next time a shadow crosses your path under the moonlight, don’t panic – it might just be one of Malta’s most amazing little mammals, quietly going about its nightly routine.
Have you ever seen one up close?