Although Myotis alcathoe was initially known only from Greece and Hungary and was thought to be restricted to southeast Europe, records since then have greatly expanded its range, and it is now known from Spain and England to Sweden and European Turkey.
In several European countries, focused searches were conducted to detect its occurrence.
Its habitat generally consists of moist, deciduous, mature forest near streams, for example in ravines or in alluvial forest (forest near a river), where there are many decaying trees that the bat can use as roosting sites.
In Germany, its preferred habitat consists of mixed deciduous forest.
In the south of the continent, it usually occurs in mountain ranges, but the factors affecting its distribution in the north are less well known.
Its range appears to be similar in shape to those of the greater and lesser horseshoe bats (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum and R. hipposideros) and Myotis emarginatus.
It may yet be found in other European countries, such as the Benelux countries, Ireland, and Moldova.
Although there are abundant records from some areas, such as France and Hungary, the species appears to be rare in most of its range.

Known records are as follows:
Albania
A single specimen was caught in 2006 in a forest of planes (Platanus orientalis) and poplars (Populus spp.)
next to a small stream.
M. mystacinus was recorded at the same place.

Austria
Three specimens of M. alcathoe were recorded in Burgenland, southeastern Austria, in 2006.
They were caught near fishponds in a region dominated by oak (Quercus petraea) and hornbeam (Carpinus betulus).

Azerbaijan
The species was recorded around 2009.

Belgium
The species is known from the 31 of July 2011 in two places around the city of Rochefort.

Bulgaria
The species is known from six localities in the south and west of the country; the first record dates from 2003.
Habitats include river and mountain forests.

Croatia
In 2003, M. alcathoe was recorded here on the basis of two specimens; three additional specimens were found in 2004.

Czech Republic
Here, the species was recorded at nine sites clustered in three regions, with the first record dating from 2001, in addition to records from roadkilled specimens at three further sites.
The typical habitat was mature oak-hornbeam forest near water with dead, decaying trees, at altitudes ranging from 170 to 390 m (560 to 1,280 ft).
Both M. mystacinus and M. brandtii occur in some of the same places in this country.
M. alcathoe has a limited, patchy distribution within the country, but reaches a high abundance in suitable habitat.

France
M. alcathoe was informally recognized in France in 2000 as a small Myotis similar to M. mystacinus, the "Murin cantalou"; in 2002, it was realized that this bat represents M. alcathoe.
A large number of sites are known, mostly in the north of the country.
The species reaches altitudes of up to 2,000 m (6,600 ft).
It is usually found close to water, but it has been found in a variety of habitats, including farmlands, swamps, forests, and wooden grounds.
In late summer and autumn, it occurs in caves.

Germany
The species is known from two different areas in the country.
In 2005 and 2006, specimens were caught in an old moist forest near the Rhine in western Baden-Württemberg.
Two other bats were found in highway tunnels close to this site.
The species is also known from the Kyffhäuser hill range of Thuringia in central Germany, an island of relatively warm habitat with some unusual wildlife.
There, bats were caught near a spring in a karst landscape amid oak-dominated deciduous forest.
The species was also recorded in deciduous forest at a former Soviet military training site in eastern Thuringia.
M. alcathoe has also been recorded in the nearby states of Saxony-Anhalt and Saxony, where it occurs in mixed deciduous forest.
Many Saxony-Anhalt records are from near water.
However, the species was also recorded in the center of the city of Chemnitz in Saxony.

Greece
The species has been recorded in the Pindus and Rhodopi Mountains of central and northern Greece.
Here, M. a
Although Myotis alcathoe was initially known only from Greece and Hungary and was thought to be restricted to southeast Europe, records since then have greatly expanded its range, and it is now known from Spain and England to Sweden and European Turkey. In several European countries, focused searches were conducted to detect its occurrence. Its habitat generally consists of moist, deciduous, mature forest near streams, for example in ravines or in alluvial forest (forest near a river), where there are many decaying trees that the bat can use as roosting sites. In Germany, its preferred habitat consists of mixed deciduous forest. In the south of the continent, it usually occurs in mountain ranges, but the factors affecting its distribution in the north are less well known. Its range appears to be similar in shape to those of the greater and lesser horseshoe bats (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum and R. hipposideros) and Myotis emarginatus. It may yet be found in other European countries, such as the Benelux countries, Ireland, and Moldova. Although there are abundant records from some areas, such as France and Hungary, the species appears to be rare in most of its range.
Known records are as follows:
Albania
A single specimen was caught in 2006 in a forest of planes (Platanus orientalis) and poplars (Populus spp.) next to a small stream. M. mystacinus was recorded at the same place.
Austria
Three specimens of M. alcathoe were recorded in Burgenland, southeastern Austria, in 2006. They were caught near fishponds in a region dominated by oak (Quercus petraea) and hornbeam (Carpinus betulus).
Azerbaijan
The species was recorded around 2009.
Belgium
The species is known from the 31 of July 2011 in two places around the city of Rochefort.
Bulgaria
The species is known from six localities in the south and west of the country; the first record dates from 2003. Habitats include river and mountain forests.
Croatia
In 2003, M. alcathoe was recorded here on the basis of two specimens; three additional specimens were found in 2004.
Czech Republic
Here, the species was recorded at nine sites clustered in three regions, with the first record dating from 2001, in addition to records from roadkilled specimens at three further sites. The typical habitat was mature oak-hornbeam forest near water with dead, decaying trees, at altitudes ranging from 170 to 390 m (560 to 1,280 ft). Both M. mystacinus and M. brandtii occur in some of the same places in this country. M. alcathoe has a limited, patchy distribution within the country, but reaches a high abundance in suitable habitat.
France
M. alcathoe was informally recognized in France in 2000 as a small Myotis similar to M. mystacinus, the "Murin cantalou"; in 2002, it was realized that this bat represents M. alcathoe. A large number of sites are known, mostly in the north of the country. The species reaches altitudes of up to 2,000 m (6,600 ft). It is usually found close to water, but it has been found in a variety of habitats, including farmlands, swamps, forests, and wooden grounds. In late summer and autumn, it occurs in caves.
Germany
The species is known from two different areas in the country. In 2005 and 2006, specimens were caught in an old moist forest near the Rhine in western Baden-Württemberg. Two other bats were found in highway tunnels close to this site. The species is also known from the Kyffhäuser hill range of Thuringia in central Germany, an island of relatively warm habitat with some unusual wildlife. There, bats were caught near a spring in a karst landscape amid oak-dominated deciduous forest. The species was also recorded in deciduous forest at a former Soviet military training site in eastern Thuringia. M. alcathoe has also been recorded in the nearby states of Saxony-Anhalt and Saxony, where it occurs in mixed deciduous forest. Many Saxony-Anhalt records are from near water. However, the species was also recorded in the center of the city of Chemnitz in Saxony.
Greece
The species has been recorded in the Pindus and Rhodopi Mountains of central and northern Greece. Here, M. a
Alcathoe bat