Main Content
Little Bent-wing Bat
Miniopterus australis
Conservation Status
Vulnerable species in New South Wales (Threatened Species Conservation Act).
What does it look like?
Little Bent-wing Bats are small dark chocolate brown insectivorous bats with a body length of about 45mm. The tip of the wing is formed by a particularly long joint of the third finger, folded back and bent under the wing while the bat is at rest. The fur is long and thick, especially over the crown and around the neck, and is slightly lighter in colour on the belly. They exhibit distinctly short muzzles, and have short, rounded roughly triangular shaped ears. It is distinguished from the Common Bent-wing Bat by its smaller size. (from DEC NSW Threatened Species Profile)
Where does it live?
They occur along the east coast of Australia from Cape York, south to northern Sydney. In Pittwater they have been recorded at Katandra Bushland Sanctuary (1995), Angophora Reserve (1995 and 2006) and Burrendong Place, Avalon (1995). Preference is given to well-timbered habitats such as rainforest, sclerophyll forests, melaleuca swamps and coastal forests. This species is a cave-dweller, congregating into maternity roosts in the summer and dispersing to smaller colonies during winter. They also use mines, tunnels and culverts.
What does it eat and what is its life cycle?
This Bent-wing Bat has a high manoeuvrability and forages on a variety of insects, including crane flies, ants, moths and wasps.
Torpor is entered into by individuals in the southern part of the distribution in winter however are active throughout the year in the North. Mating occurs in July to August, with the growth of the embryo slowed until September. Single young are born in December at the warm and humid maternity roosts. These maternity colonies are mostly compromised of females and young, with male roosting elsewhere, and often shared with the larger Eastern Bent-wing Bat in NSW. A large number of roosting bats is required to create suitable warm, humid conditions to raise young.
What are the threats?
-
Predation by Green Tree Frogs, Pythons, Owls and the introduced Red Fox.
-
Disturbance at roosting sites
Updated: 25 Jul 2011
Related Links
- Little Bent-wing Bat - DEC NSW Threatened Species Profile