Above: Long-tailed bat Chalinolobus tuberculatus, Ngongotaha Hatchery, Rotorua. Photo J.L. Kendrick, Crown Copyright © Department of Conservation 1973
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Other bat pages:
Mammals
Greater short-tailed bat
Short-tailed bat
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Differences between the only two surviving native land mammals .....
A membrane is attached to the tail of the long-tailed bat, whereas the short-tailed bat's tail is shorter and free. The attached membrane is used to scoop insects in flight.
In contrast with ground feeding short-tailed bats, the long-tailed bat is an aerial insectivore that eats mosquitos, moths, beetles and midges.
It has a homing range of 100 sq.km and can reach speeds of up to 60 kph, whereas the short-tailed bat is a very poor flier, never getting much higher than three metres off the ground.
The greater distribution and number of long-tailed bats, compared to short-tailed, is an example of better survival of New Zealand's stronger flying animals, that are less reliant on ground habitation and less vulnerable to introduced predators.
The long-tail bat's echo-location calls include a relatively low frequency component that can be heard by humans with suitable hearing. The long-tailed frequency is 40 kHz, and the lesser short-tailed frequency is 27-28 kHz, with the lower frequency representing the larger body size.
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The long-tailed and lesser short-tailed bat are the only New Zealand native terrestrial mammals, since the greater short-tailed bat became extinct. |
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Long-tailed and short-tailed bats have complex social systems, with both species using a series of communal and solitary day-time roosts.
Long-tailed and short-tailed bat roost locations studied in Fiordland were both found to
be in large, old-aged red beech Nothofagus fusca trees with similar characteristics.
Short-tailed bat roosts were significantly closer to the ground, with more entrances, and larger entrance and interior space dimensions. The roosts of both species were well insulated to maintain stable
temperatures.
The average number of 310 in the roosting group, and the roost occupation period of six to seven days for short-tailed bats, were higher than long-tailed bats.
Acutely threatened status .....
Chalinolobus tuberculatus is listed as 'vulnerable' on the 2007 IUCN Red List of
Threatened Species.
The 2005 New Zealand Threat Classification System names the long-tailed bat as the species "Chalinolobus tuberculata" whereas most scientific references use the species name "tuberculatus".
The North Island subspecies Chalinolobus tuberculata (North Island) is acutely threatened with a 'nationally vulnerable' listing in the 2005 New Zealand Threat Classification System.
The South Island subspecies Chalinolobus tuberculata (South Island) is listed as 'nationally endangered'. Both subspecies are regarded as taxonomically indeterminate. |
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