Little Pied Bat - profile

Indicative distribution

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Key:

known

predicted

The areas shown in pink and/purple are the sub-regions where the species or community is known or predicted to occur. They may not occur thoughout the sub-region but may be restricted to certain areas. ( click here to see geographic restrictions). The information presented in this map is only indicative and may contain errors and omissions.

Scientific name: Chalinolobus picatus

Conservation status in NSW: Vulnerable

Commonwealth status: Not listed

Profile last updated: 01 Dec 2017

Description

The Little Pied Bat is a distinctive black and white bat that weighs four to eight grams. The head and body are about 4.5 cm in length; the tail 3.5 cm. The fur is glossy black on the back, grey on the belly, with white fur along the flanks forming a 'V' in the pubic area.

Distribution

The Little-Pied Bat is found in inland Queensland and NSW (including Western Plains and slopes) extending slightly into South Australia and Victoria.

Habitat and ecology

Occurs in dry open forest, open woodland, mulga woodlands, chenopod shrublands, cypress pine forest and mallee and Bimbil box woodlands.
Roosts in caves, rock outcrops, mine shafts, tunnels, tree hollows and buildings.
Can tolerate high temperatures and dryness but need access to nearby open water.
Feeds on moths and possibly other flying invertebrates.

Regional distribution and habitat

Click on a region below to view detailed distribution, habitat and vegetation information.

Threats

Loss or modification of habitat.
Predation by cats.
Application of pesticides in or adjacent to foraging areas.
Inappropriate fire regimes.
Removal of large trees containing large hollows needed for nesting, including dead trees and paddock trees.
Lack of knowledge of locations of key breeding habitat and breeding ecology and success.

Recovery strategies

A Saving Our Species conservation project is currently being developed for this species and will be available soon. For information on how you can contribute to this species' recovery, see the Activities to assist this species section below.

Activities to assist this species

Control feral cats.
Retain foraging and roosting habitat.
Minimise the use of pesticides within or adjacent to areas where insectivorous bats occur.

Information sources

Churchill, S. (2008) Australian Bats. Second Edition. (Allen and Unwin, Crows Nest)
Duncan, A., Baker, G.B. and Montgomery, N. (1999) The Action Plan for Australian Bats. (Environment Australia, Canberra, Australia)
Ford, G.I., Pennay, R.A., Young, R.A. and Richards, G.C. (2008) Little Pied Bat Chalinolobus dwyeri (Gould, 1852). Pp. 539-40 in Van Dyck, S. and Strahan, S. (eds.) The Mammals of Australia. Third Edition. (Reed New Holland, Sydney)
Pennay, M. and Freeman, J. (2005) Day roost of Little Pied Bat Chalinolobus picatus (Gould)(Microchiroptera: Vespertilionidae) in north inland New South Wales, Australia. Australian Zoologist 33(2): 166
Pennay, M., Law, B. and Lunney, D. (2012) Review of the distribution and status of the bat fauna of New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory. Pp 226-256 in Law, B., Eby, P., Lunney, D. and Lumsden, L. (eds.) The Biology and Conservation of Australasian Bats. (Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales, Sydney)
Pennay, M., Law, B. and Reinhold, L. (2004) Bat calls of New South Wales: Region based guide to the echolocation calls of Microchiropteran bats. (NSW Department of Environment and Conservation, Hurstville)
Val, J., Oliver, D., Pennay, M., McLaughlin, J., Ewin, P. and Foster, E. (2012) The reptile, bird and small mammal fauna of Dune Mallee Woodlands in south-western New South Wales. Australian Zoologist 36(1): 29-48

IBRA Bioregion	IBRA Subregion	Known or predicted	Geographic restrictions region

Brigalow Belt South	Liverpool Plains	Known	None
Brigalow Belt South	Moonie-Barwon Interfluve	Predicted	None
Brigalow Belt South	Narrandool	Known	None
Brigalow Belt South	Northern Basalts	Known	None
Brigalow Belt South	Northern Outwash	Known	None
Brigalow Belt South	Pilliga	Known	None
Brigalow Belt South	Pilliga Outwash	Known	None
Brigalow Belt South	Talbragar Valley	Known	None
Broken Hill Complex	Barrier Range	Known	None
Broken Hill Complex	Barrier Range Outwash	Predicted	None
Broken Hill Complex	Mootwingee Downs	Known	None
Broken Hill Complex	Scopes Range	Known	None
Channel Country	Bulloo	Predicted	None
Channel Country	Bulloo Dunefields	Predicted	None
Channel Country	Central Depression	Known	None
Channel Country	Core Ranges	Predicted	None
Channel Country	Sturt Stony Desert	Known	None
Cobar Peneplain	Barnato Downs	Known	None
Cobar Peneplain	Boorindal Plains	Known	None
Cobar Peneplain	Canbelego Downs	Known	None
Cobar Peneplain	Lachlan Plains	Known	None
Cobar Peneplain	Nymagee	Known	None
Darling Riverine Plains	Bogan-Macquarie	Known	None
Darling Riverine Plains	Castlereagh-Barwon	Known	None
Darling Riverine Plains	Culgoa-Bokhara	Known	None
Darling Riverine Plains	Great Darling Anabranch	Known	None
Darling Riverine Plains	Louth Plains	Known	None
Darling Riverine Plains	Menindee	Known	None
Darling Riverine Plains	Pooncarie-Darling	Known	None
Darling Riverine Plains	Warrambool-Moonie	Known	None
Darling Riverine Plains	Wilcannia Plains	Known	None
Mulga Lands	Cuttaburra-Paroo	Known	None
Mulga Lands	Kerribree Basin	Predicted	None
Mulga Lands	Nebine Plains	Known	None
Mulga Lands	Paroo Overflow	Predicted	None
Mulga Lands	Paroo-Darling Sands	Known	None
Mulga Lands	Urisino Sandplains	Known	None
Mulga Lands	Warrego Plains	Known	None
Mulga Lands	Warrego Sands	Known	None
Mulga Lands	West Warrego	Known	None
Mulga Lands	White Cliffs Plateau	Known	None
Murray Darling Depression	Darling Depression	Known	None
Murray Darling Depression	South Olary Plain	Known	None
Nandewar	Inverell Basalts	Known	None
Nandewar	Nandewar Northern Complex	Known	None
Nandewar	Peel	Known	None
New England Tablelands	Eastern Nandewars	Known	None
New England Tablelands	Moredun Volcanics	Known	None
New England Tablelands	Tingha Plateau	Known	None
NSW South Western Slopes	Inland Slopes	Known	None
NSW South Western Slopes	Lower Slopes	Known	None
Other State	QLD	Known	None
Other State	SA	Known	None
Other State	VIC	Known	None
Riverina	Lachlan	Known	None
Riverina	Murray Fans	Known	None
Riverina	Murray Scroll Belt	Predicted	None
Riverina	Murrumbidgee	Known	None
Riverina	Robinvale Plains	Predicted	None
Simpson Strzelecki Dunefields	Strzelecki Desert	Predicted	None

Images

Little Pied Bat Image 1 of 3.
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