Blanford's Bat vs coastal small-reed

Hesperoptenus blanfordi compared with Calamagrostis pseudophragmites

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Blanford's Bat	coastal small-reed
Kingdom	Animalia (Animals)	Plantae (Plants)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordates)	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Liliopsida (Monocots)
Order	Chiroptera (Bats)	Poales (Grasses)
Family	Vespertilionidae	Poaceae (Grass Family)
Genus	Hesperoptenus	Calamagrostis
Species	Hesperoptenus blanfordi	Calamagrostis pseudophragmites

Conservation Status

Blanford's Bat

LC — Least Concern

coastal small-reed

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Blanford's Bat	coastal small-reed
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Blanford's Bat

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

coastal small-reed

Habitat

Typically found in grasslands, wetlands, forests, and cultivated landscapes.

Range

Found in Norway.

Blanford's Bat

The Blanford's Bat (Hesperoptenus blanfordi) is a species in the genus Hesperoptenus. It is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

coastal small-reed

Coastal small-reed (Calamagrostis pseudophragmites) is a perennial grass in the family Poaceae, distributed across riparian and coastal habitats in Eurasia, from central and western Europe eastward through Russia and Central Asia to the Far East. Despite database records linking this species to Norway, its actual native range spans riverbanks, gravel bars, flood meadows, and coastal wetlands across the Eurasian continent. It forms tufted stands in disturbed and seasonally inundated soils, often colonising gravel banks following flooding events alongside willow scrub. The genus Calamagrostis encompasses numerous reed grass species adapted to wet, nutrient-poor, and often disturbed habitats. Coastal small-reed can tolerate fluctuating water levels and occasional drought. It is assessed as Least Concern by the IUCN, reflecting its broad distribution and adaptability across its native Eurasian range. In some areas of Europe, populations have declined due to river channelisation, reduced flooding, and loss of natural riverine processes. The species is an indicator of dynamic, naturally managed riparian systems and is used in restoration projects targeting floodplain biodiversity.