NEW ZEALAND ECOLOGY MAMMALS New Zealand's only native land mammals were three species of bat. Two species of short-tailed bats, were the world's most terrestrial bats, and the result of the bat family's attempt to produce a mouse. The lesser short-tailed bat Mystacina tuberculata is now the sole surviving member of the family Mystacinidae which is endemic to New Zealand. The family is one of four in the superfamily Noctilionoidea which, with the exception of Mystacina is restricted to central and south America. Mystacina is a sister taxa of the genus Icarops consisting of three early Miocene species in Northern Australia. Mystacina probably dispersed to New Zealand with prevailing winds from Australia in the late Oligocene or early Miocene about 30 million years ago.

Greater short-tailed bat Mystacina robusta Since the time of Maori settlement in the 13th century until its last sighting in 1967, one of the two surviving members of the ancient Mystacinidae family, the greater short-tailed bat was known only from Big South Cape Island, and adjoining Solomons Island off Stewart Island. It became extinct after rats got ashore from a fishing vessel. Only fossils have been found at various locations in the North and South Islands where it was once widespread.

See more Northern short-tailed bat

Mystacina tuberculata aupourica

Central short-tailed bat

Mystacina tuberculata rhyacobia

Southern short-tailed bat

Mystacina tuberculata tuberculata Three very odd subspecies, the world's sole survivors of the Mystacinidae family, remain at 13 locations throughout New Zealand. They feed on the ground hopping and darting through the forest, with wings folded in a pouch, using their arms as front limbs. They are relatively poor fliers, normally flying two or three metres off the ground. See more

Long-tailed bat Chalinolobus tuberculatus The long-tailed bat arrived more recently than the Mystacina bats, assumably by windblown flight from Australia across the Tasman Sea. It is a close relative of five wattled bat species widely distributed throughout the western Pacific. It is New Zealand's smallest bat, is more common, and is very different than the unique short-tailed species. It is a better flier with a large homing range, and is an aerial insectivore, still widespread throughout the country.

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Photo Credit Top right: Short-tailed bat cluster, Ohakune, B.D. Lloyd

Center middle: Short-tailed bat, Codfish Island, B.D. Lloyd

Center bottom: Long-tailed bat, Gisborne, Dick Veitch

Crown Copyright © Department of Conservation.

Illustration Credit Center top: Greater short-tailed bat, Peter Schouten



2005 New Zealand Threat Classification System Greater short-tailed bat

Mystacina robustus

[8] Data deficient Northern short-tailed bat

Mystacina tuberculata aupourica

[2] Nationally endangered Eastern central short-tailed bat

Mystacina tuberculata rhyacobia (eastern)

[7] Range restricted Northwestern central short-tailed bat

Mystacina tuberculata rhyacobia (north-western)

[7] Range restricted Southern North Island southern short-tailed bat

Mystacina tuberculata tuberculata (southern North Island)

[1] Nationally critical South Island southern short-tailed bat

Mystacina tuberculata tuberculata (South Island)

[2] Nationally endangered Long-tailed bat (North Island)

Chalinolobus tuberculatus (North Island)

[3] Nationally vulnerable Long-tailed bat (South Island)

Chalinolobus tuberculatus (South Island)

[2] Nationally endangered 2007 IUCN Red List of

Threatened Species New Zealand greater

short-tailed bat

Mystacina robustus

Extinct New Zealand lesser

short-tailed bat

Mystacina tuberculata

Vulnerable New Zealand long-tailed bat

Chalinolobus tuberculatus

Vulnerable