Distribution Matrix European Bats

Checklist
Latest version published by Naturalis Biodiversity Center on Jul 17, 2026 Naturalis Biodiversity Center
Publication date:
17 July 2026
License:
CC0 1.0

Download the latest version of this resource data as a Darwin Core Archive (DwC-A) or the resource metadata as EML or RTF:

Data as a DwC-A file download 52 records in English (11 KB) - Update frequency: unknown
Metadata as an EML file download in English (11 KB)
Metadata as an RTF file download in English (10 KB)

Description

This distribution matrix was compiled for 54 European geographic regions, comprising European countries together with selected larger islands and distinct territories. It includes 52 bat species that occur in Europe or its associated territories. For each species, occurrence is represented as present (1) or absent (0) for every region.This matrix was developed specifically to support machine-learning–based automated species classification and should not be interpreted as an official or authoritative checklist of national species occurrences. Users requiring official distribution or occurrence information should consult the distribution data maintained by UNEP/EUROBATS and other relevant national or international authorities.Unlike political country checklists, the matrix uses a finer geographic subdivision by including separate territories and larger islands where this improves the performance and ecological relevance of automated classification. Furthermore, the matrix follows an intentionally inclusive approach to species occurrence. Where there is reasonable ecological justification (e.g. geographic proximity, suitable habitat, or documented occurrence in neighbouring areas), species may be considered present in a territory even if they are not currently listed there as native or officially recorded. This approach minimizes false exclusions in the machine-learning workflow and reflects potential rather than strictly documented political-unit occurrences.Documented species occurrences were compiled from the published literature listed in the bibliography below. These sources formed the basis for the distribution matrix, with additional expert-informed adjustments made where appropriate to support the intended machine-learning application.Consequently, the matrix should be regarded as a practical tool for constraining automated species identification rather than as a definitive statement of species distributions.

Data Records

The data in this checklist resource has been published as a Darwin Core Archive (DwC-A), which is a standardized format for sharing biodiversity data as a set of one or more data tables. The core data table contains 52 records.

1 extension data tables also exist. An extension record supplies extra information about a core record. The number of records in each extension data table is illustrated below.

Taxon (core)
52
Distribution 
1230

This IPT archives the data and thus serves as the data repository. The data and resource metadata are available for download in the downloads section. The versions table lists other versions of the resource that have been made publicly available and allows tracking changes made to the resource over time.

Versions

The table below shows only published versions of the resource that are publicly accessible.

Rights

Researchers should respect the following rights statement:

The publisher and rights holder of this work is Naturalis Biodiversity Center. To the extent possible under law, the publisher has waived all rights to these data and has dedicated them to the Public Domain (CC0 1.0). Users may copy, modify, distribute and use the work, including for commercial purposes, without restriction.

GBIF Registration

This resource has been registered with GBIF, and assigned the following GBIF UUID: bf637f21-c34f-432a-9b42-3c411145b61a.  Naturalis Biodiversity Center publishes this resource, and is itself registered in GBIF as a data publisher endorsed by Netherlands Biodiversity Information Facility.

Keywords

Distribution matrix; Europe; Chiroptera

Contacts

Milan van Hirtum
  • Originator ●
  • Point Of Contact
Naturalis Biodiversity Center
Leonie Baier
  • Originator
Naturalis Biodiversity Center

Geographic Coverage

Europe

Bounding Coordinates South West [-90, -180], North East [90, 180]

Taxonomic Coverage

No Description available

Bibliographic Citations

  1. Baron, B. (2007). A look at the Chiropteran Fauna of the Maltese Islands: Towards an effective action plan for their conservation. Xjenza, 12, Article 120201.
  2. Ferreira, D. F., Gibb, R., López-Baucells, A., Nunes, N. J., Jones, K. E., & Rocha, R. (2022). Species-specific responses to land-use change in island insectivorous bats. Journal of Nature Conservation, 67, 126177. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnc.2022.126177
  3. Fichera, G., Mucedda, M., Russo, D., Tomassini, A., Kiefer, A., Veith, M., & Ancillotto, L. (2022). Pantelleria Island (Sicily, Italy): A biogeographic crossroad for bats between Africa and Europe. Hystrix, the Italian Journal of Mammalogy, 33(2), 134–137. https://doi.org/10.4404/hystrix-00503-2021
  4. Dietz, Christian & Kiefer, Andreas. (2014). Fledermäuse Europas.
  5. R. Gabriel & P.A. V. Borges (Editors). Guia Prático da Fauna Terrestre dos Açores / Field Guide of Azorean Terrestrial Fauna. pp. 228-229. Instituto Açoriano de Cultura, Angrado Heroísmo.
  6. González-Dionis, J., Castillo Ruiz, C., Cruzado-Caballero, P., Cadavid-Melero, E., & Crespo, V. D. (2022). First study of the bat fossil record of the mid-Atlantic volcanic islands. Earth and Environmental Science Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, 113(1), 13–27. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1755691021000384
  7. Puechmaille, S. J., Dool, S., Beuneux, G., & Ruedi, M. (2023). Newly described and already endangered: A new mammal species endemic to Corsica. Revue suisse de Zoologie, 130(2), 335–351. https://doi.org/10.35929/RSZ.0108
  8. Román, J., Cabezas-León, S. M., Calzada, J., & Giménez, J. (2025). An updated checklist of the mammal species of Spain with notes on exclusions, additions, and taxonomic changes. Galemys, 37, 29–61. https://doi.org/10.7325/Galemys.2025.A4

Additional Metadata

Work on sound recognition of grasshoppers, bats and amphibians is conducted as part of the EU Horizon projects TETTRIs and MAMBO. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or REA.

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Alternative Identifiers bf637f21-c34f-432a-9b42-3c411145b61a
https://tryout.nlbif.nl/resource?r=bats_eu