East-coast Free-tailed Bat

East-coast Free-tailed Bat
East-coast Free-tailed Bat
Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Chiroptera
Family: Molossidae
Genus: Mormopterus
Subgenus: M. (Micronomus)
Species: M. norfolkensis
Binomial name
Mormopterus norfolkensis
Gray, 1840

The East-coast Free-tailed Bat or Eastern Little Mastiff Bat, (Mormopterus norfolkensis), is a species of bat native to Australia. It is listed as Vulnerable on the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 and is found along the east coast of Australia within New South Wales. It belongs to the subgenus Micronomus.

Little is known of the ecology of the species. Morphology of the species indicates that the species is a fast flyer adapted to foraging for insects in open areas. It roosts in tree hollows, roofs of buildings and has been recorded utilising artificial nest boxes. It is rarely captured, possibly due to the height at which it flies and/or preference for open areas which are not generally suitable for traps.

Research is currently being undertaken by The University of Newcastle and NSW Department of Primary Industries into the ecology of the species. Key components of the research are: landscape scale habitat use, landscape element habitat use, roosts selection and diet.

The Mormopterus genus is currently under taxonomic revision.

References

  • Chiroptera Specialist Group 1996. Mormopterus norfolkensis. In: IUCN 2006. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 24 April 2007.