Rhinolophus ferrumequinum

1. Lactation decreases relative telomere length in R. ferrumequinum.

   “Female R. ferrumequinum rTL declined during annual summer reproductive periods, particularly through the energetically demanding lactation stage.”

   Animalsfemales

   Short- and long-term costs of reproduction revealed by telomere dynamics in wild greater horseshoe bats

   Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·1 Dec 2025

More on Lactation

1. Reproduction decreases relative telomere length in R. ferrumequinum.

   “females breeding from 2 y of age had significantly shorter relative TL (rTL) compared to females delaying reproduction until later ages.”

   Animalsfemales

   Short- and long-term costs of reproduction revealed by telomere dynamics in wild greater horseshoe bats

   Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·1 Dec 2025

More on Reproduction