Have introduced fish initiated piscivory among the long-fingered bat?

During the winter of 2003-2004 feces were collected from a winter colony of the tong-fingered bat (Myotis capaccinii) in the Hazorea cave (north-west Israel). Of the 1913 feces that were examined, 234 contained scales of Gambusia affinis - a small fish that had been introduced to Israel around 1920 in order to control mosquito larvae. The remains of spiders and five insect orders were also represented in the feces. This is the first report of a piscivorous bat in the Middle East and the first finding of fish remains in the feces of M. capaccinii. The findings show that in the north of Israel this species does not hibernate but remains active throughout the winter. It appears that the consumption of G. affinis reflects a change in the diet of these bats from insectivory to semipiscivory. (c) 2006 Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Saugetierkunde. Published by Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.