Main Content
Eastern Cave Bat
Vespadelus troughtoni
Conservation Status
Vulnerable species in New South Wales (Threatened Species Conservation Act).
 |
What does it look like?They are a small chestnut-brown bat with rufous tones on the head, and darker wings. It has smallish, conical eats and a short, up-tipped nose. The species is very difficult to separate from several other closely related species that occur in similar areas. (from DEC NSW Threatened Species Profile) |
Where does it live?
They generally occur in a broad band along both sides of the Great Dividing Range from Cape York to Kempsey. There is one known population in the Sydney region present in the Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park at West Head. They were recorded at a cave in this area in 2006. They inhabit tropical and mixed woodland and wet sclerophyll forest on the coasts and drier forests on the western slopes and inland. Being a cave dweller, they are mostly found in shallow sandstone caves, boulder piles, buildings and sites near the entrance of mine tunnels. In Pittwater, preference is given to caves with a domed roof, rather than a flat surface. Usual colony sizes of 6 to 50 have been recorded with the Sydney population roosting in colonies of up to 30 individuals. However, occasional roost sizes of up to 500 individuals have been known.
Little is known about the diet and breeding of the Eastern Cave Bat.
Updated: 25 Jul 2011
Related Links
- Eastern Cave Bat - DEC NSW Threatened Species Profile