Brown long eared bat, X-ray

X-ray projection of a brown long-eared bat (Plecotus auritus), captured and killed by a cat. The brown long-eared bat is a medium sized bat with ears almost as long as its body. It is commonly found in the UK and across Europe, and all species are protected by law in the UK. The rabies virus (Rhabdoviridae family, Lyssavirus genus) can be passed to humans if saliva from an infected animal (e.g. dog, bat) enters the body for example through a bite. The virus travels up the nerves and infects the brain and central nervous system. This is almost always fatal unless treated very early on. Actual size of the bat is approximately 5 cm high.