Christian Dietz is a teacher, author and committed bat expert. He is particularly interested in the ecology and systematics of bats in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East, and makes regular trips throughout the Mediterranean and eastern Europe in search of them. His findings have made valuable contributions to bat conservation and our understanding of their diversity.Andreas Kiefer is a Research Associate at the University of Trier, Germany, with a long-standing interest in bat behaviour and phylogenetics. His research currently focuses on the impact of wind turbines on bats.

The information presented is largely accessible to anyone with an interest in bat biology, conservation and natural history.

• Bats - the mystery beginsBat roostsTracking batsDetecting batsIdentification of bats The bat speciesIntroduction to the series accountsFruit bats PteropodidaeHorseshoe bats RhinolophidaeVesper or plain-nosed bats VespertilionidaeBent-winged bats MiniopteridaeFree-tailed bats Molossidae GlossaryBibliographyThe genera of European bats