Little Bent-winged 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: Miniopterus australis

Conservation status in NSW: Vulnerable

Commonwealth status: Not listed

Profile last updated: 14 Oct 2024

Description

Little Bentwing-bats are small dark chocolate brown insectivorous bats with a body length of about 45 mm. 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 have distinctly short muzzles, and short, rounded roughly triangular shaped ears. Distinguished from the Common Bentwing-bat by its smaller size.

Distribution

East coast and ranges of Australia from Cape York in Queensland to Wollongong in NSW.

Habitat and ecology

Moist eucalypt forest, rainforest, vine thicket, wet and dry sclerophyll forest, Melaleuca swamps, dense coastal forests and banksia scrub. Generally found in well-timbered areas.
Little Bentwing-bats roost in caves, tunnels, tree hollows, abandoned mines, stormwater drains, culverts, bridges and sometimes buildings during the day, and at night forage for small insects beneath the canopy of densely vegetated habitats.
They often share roosting sites with the Common Bentwing-bat and, in winter, the two species may form mixed clusters.
In NSW the largest maternity colony is in close association with a large maternity colony of Eastern Bentwing-bats (Miniopterus schreibersii) and appears to depend on the large colony to provide the high temperatures needed to rear its young.
Maternity colonies form in spring and birthing occurs in early summer. Males and juveniles disperse in summer.
Only five nursery sites /maternity colonies are known in Australia.

Regional distribution and habitat

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

Threats

Disturbance of colonies, especially in nursery or hibernating caves, may be catastrophic.
Extractive mining activity that destroys or disturbs caves and resident bats. Includes maternity, staging and over-wintering roosting caves.
Illegal extraction of guano causing disturbance to resident bats
Changes to habitat, especially surrounding maternity/nursery caves and winter roosts.
Pesticides on insects and in water consumed by bats bio accumulates, resulting in poisoning of individuals.
Predation from foxes, particularly around maternity caves, winter roosts and roosts within culverts, tunnels and under bridges.
Predation from feral cats, particularly around maternity caves, winter roosts and roosts within culverts, tunnels and under bridges
Woody weeds such as Lantana or blackberry that can overgrow cave entrances and block access or provide an entanglement risk
Introduction of exotic pathogens such as the White-nosed fungus.
Hazard reduction and wildfire fires during the breeding season.
Large scale wildfire or hazard reduction can impact on foraging resources.
Poor knowledge of reproductive success and population dynamics.

Recovery strategies

A targeted strategy for managing this species has been developed under the Saving Our Species program; click here for details. For more information on the Saving Our Species program click here

Activities to assist this species

Protect known roosting and nursery sites and surrounding forest from disturbance by restricting and/or monitoring access.
Retain stands of native vegetation, particularly within 10km of roosts.
Reduce use of pesticides within breeding and foraging habitat.
Undertake non-chemical weed control to prevent obstruction of maternity cave and other roost entrances.
Exclude fire from 100m of maternity cave, winter roost or other significant roost entrances and ensure smoke/flames do not enter these roosts.
Control foxes, feral cats and goats around maternity caves, winter roosts and other significant roost sites.
Ensure any fencing and gating of roosts is done in a bat friendly manner allowing adequate entrance and exit space for all species using the roost.
Check with OEH before undertaking recreational caving activities.
Ensure adequate foraging habitat is retained when undertaking hazard reduction activities, particularly during the breeding/reproduction season.
Ensure appropriate hygiene protocols are implemented when undertaking research and survey work.

Information sources

Churchill, S. (2008) Australian Bats. New Holland, Sydney.
Churchill, S. (2008) Australian Bats. Second Edition. New Holland, Sydney.
Dwyer, P.D. (1995) Little Bentwing-bat Miniopterus australis. Pp. 492-3 in Strahan, R.(ed.) The Mammals of Australia. Reed Books, Sydney.
Law, B.S., Chidel, M. and Turner, G. (2000) The use by wildlife of paddock trees in farmland. Pacific Conservation Biology Vol 6, pp 130-143
NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (2002) Threatened Species of the Lower North Coast of New South Wales. (NSW NPWS, Hurstville)
NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (2002) Threatened Species of the Upper North Coast of NSW: Fauna. (NSW NPWS, Coffs Harbour)

IBRA Bioregion	IBRA Subregion	Known or predicted	Geographic restrictions region

New England Tablelands	Armidale Plateau	Known	None
New England Tablelands	Ebor Basalts	Known	None
New England Tablelands	Northeast Forest Lands	Known	None
New England Tablelands	Round Mountain	Predicted	None
New England Tablelands	Stanthorpe Plateau	Known	None
New England Tablelands	Walcha Plateau	Known	None
New England Tablelands	Wongwibinda Plateau	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Barrington	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Carrai Plateau	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Cataract	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Chaelundi	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Coffs Coast and Escarpment	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Comboyne Plateau	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Dalmorton	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Ellerston	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Guy Fawkes	Predicted	None
NSW North Coast	Karuah Manning	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Macleay Gorges	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Macleay Hastings	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Mummel Escarpment	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Rocky River Gorge	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Tomalla	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Upper Hunter	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Upper Manning	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Washpool	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Yuraygir	Known	None
Ocean	Hawkesbury Shelf	Known	None
Ocean	Manning Shelf	Known	None
Ocean - Other State	Northern Australian Coastal Waters	Known	None
Other State	QLD	Known	None
South Eastern Highlands	Bungonia	Known	None
South Eastern Queensland	Burringbar-Conondale Ranges	Known	None
South Eastern Queensland	Clarence Lowlands	Known	None
South Eastern Queensland	Clarence Sandstones	Known	None
South Eastern Queensland	Scenic Rim	Known	None
South Eastern Queensland	Sunshine Coast-Gold Coast Lowlands	Known	None
South Eastern Queensland	Woodenbong	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Burragorang	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Cumberland	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Hunter	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Illawarra	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Kerrabee	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Pittwater	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Sydney Cataract	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Wollemi	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Wyong	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Yengo	Known	None