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EUROBATS Publication Series No. 7
Common Names of European Bats
pipistrellus: derived from the Italian pipistrello
species are used by authors in several
ending with “r”, as Leisler(us) and Natter -
= bat.
forms. The most frequent confusion is
er(us), should get the genitive ending with
punicus: derived from Punic, Carthaginian
observed in the use of the suffix of specific
a single “i”, thus Nyctalus leisleri (the
(of Carthage).
scientific names ending with an "i" or “ii”.
genitive of Leislerus) and Myotis nattereri.
pygmaeus: derived from the Greek pygmaios
For example, one can find the scientific
• Dedication names to male persons of more
= dwarf.
name for the Daubenton's bat written as
recently described species have not
sardus: of Sardinia.
Myotis daubentoni or as Myotis daubentonii.
been derived from Latinised names and
serotinus: derived from the Latin serus =
A special section in the International Code of
should end with a single “i”, e.g. Plecotus
late, serotinus means that it comes late.
Zoological Nomenclature is devoted to this
kolombatovici and Pipistrellus hanaki.
teneriffae: of Teneriffe.
topic.
teniotis: seems to come from the Greek
References to species described by Kuhl
taina and the Latin taenia = fold and the
are dated by authors with the years 1817,
References to Kuhl
Greek ous or otos = ear with folded
ears, or with folds on the ears.
Spelling and quoting of scientific names and
1818 or 1819. For example, one can find in
publications references to Nyctalus leisleri
with (Kuhl, 1817) or (Kuhl 1818), and to
Myotis mystacinus with (Kuhl, 1817) or
(Kuhl, 1819). Furthermore, parentheses
In 1817, Heinrich Kuhl published his
monograph “Die deutschen Fledermäuse”.
This publication contained bat species
formerly described by other authors along
with the species newly described by Kuhl
Heinrich Kuhl (1797–1821). Kuhl described seven
bat species listed in the Annex to the EUROBATS
Agreement. Portrait from the collection of Naturalis
Biodiversity Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.
authors
around author’s names (and dates) have a
himself. Kuhl's monograph was issued in a
Despite the clear rules in the International
meaning.
limited number. Therefore, it was reprinted
Use of parentheses for author’s names and
Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN) to
in two parts in the “Annalen der Wetter -
dates
promote stability and universality in the
Suffix i, or ii
auischen Gesellschaft für die Gesammte
When a species-group name is combined
scientific names of animals, and to ensure
• Species names derived from the Latinised
Naturkunde” in 1818 and 1819 respectively.
with a generic name other than the original
that each name is unique and distinct,
personal names of males (i.e. names
Nevertheless, the first edition of Kuhl’s
one, the name of the author of the species-
scientific names of some European bat
with the Latin endings shown here between
publication in 1817 was deposited in
group name, if cited, shall be enclosed with
brackets), such as d'Aubenton(ius),
accordance with the rules of the ICZN, and
parentheses. The date, if cited, has also to
Bech stein(ius), Blyth(ius), Brandt(ius),
therefore only this publication (and 1817 as
be enclosed within the same parentheses,
Kuhl(ius), Nilsson(ius), and Schreibers(ius),
the year of issue) should be used as a
e.g. when the species originally described
should get the genitive ending “ii”, hence
reference to species described by Kuhl.
as Vespertilio nathusii by Keyserling and
Myotis daubentonii and Pipistrellus kuhlii.
References to Kuhl 1818 and Kuhl 1819 are
Blasius, 1839, was later reassigned to the
• Species names derived from names which
not correct.
genus Pipistrellus, the species had to be
had already a Latin ending, such as Blasius
References such as “Pipistrellus kuhlii
cited subsequently as Pipistrellus nathusii
and Nathusius, should also get a genitive
Natterer, 1817", “Pipistrellus kuhlii, Natterer
(Keyserling & Blasius, 1839).
ending “ii”, hence Rhinolophus blasii and
in Kuhl, 1817", “Myotis bechsteinii Leisler,
Pipistrellus nathusii.
1817", or “Myotis bechsteinii Leisler in Kuhl,
• Species names derived from names of
1817" are not correct either. Neither Natterer
The use of fonts in scientific names
male persons originally ending with “i”, as
nor Leisler described new bat species. They
The scientific names of genus- or species-
Street in Paris, France, dedicated to Louis-Jean
Marie d’Aubenton (1716–1799).
Myotis daubentonii was named after him.
© Peter H.C. Lina
Capaccini and Savi, should also get a
genitive ending “ii”, hence Myotis capaccinii
and Hypsugo savii.
• Species names derived from Latinised
contemporary names of male persons
both provided information, collected bat
specimens, and proposed species names to
Kuhl, who described these newly discovered
species in his monograph by himself.
group taxa should be printed in a type-face
(font) different from that used in the text.
Such names are usually printed in italics,
which should not be used for names in
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