Eastern Tube-nosed 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: Nyctimene robinsoni

Conservation status in NSW: Vulnerable

Commonwealth status: Not listed

Profile last updated: 24 Mar 2020

Description

Eastern Tube-nosed Bats are small relatives of the flying-foxes, with raised tubular nostrils and large chocolate-brown eyes. They are fawn to rich brown in colour, grading to grey on the head. A distinctive feature of this bat is the sparse yellow to green spotting on the wings and ears, and a distinct narrow black stripe along the spine. At night they fly rapidly and with great manouverability just above or below the forest canopy, making a distinctive, high-pitched whistling call.

Distribution

Coastal areas of north-eastern Australia from Cape York south to the far north-east corner of NSW. Few records from NSW, including the Nightcap, Tweed and Burringbar Ranges and in the vicinity of Mt Warning.

Habitat and ecology

Favour streamside habitats within coastal subtropical rainforest and moist eucalypt forests with a well-developed rainforest understorey.
They feed mainly on fruit and nectar from trees in the rainforest canopy and sometimes come close to human settlement to visit flowering or fruiting trees.

Regional distribution and habitat

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

South Eastern Queensland

Threats

Clearing and fragmentation of rainforest and wet eucalypt forest for agriculture and residential development.
Habitat fragmentation and degradation from past land clearing for agriculture, forestry, and urban development reducing habitat availability and condition and food and water availability
Degradation from weeds including lantana and vines suppressing regeneration of food trees.
Destruction of Black Bean, an important food tree, because the seeds are toxic to cattle.
Predation by cats particularly while foraging on low hanging fruit and flowers.
Disturbance due to agricultural development, individuals getting caught on barbed wire fences near feeding and drinking areas (e.g. near orchards and dams).
Alteration of habitat from climate change including structure, floristic composition, resource availability (water and food trees and palms), rainforest drying including gullies and streams.
Monitoring is required to assess the species population trends over time
Monitoring is required to assess the severity of threats.

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

Fence areas of habitat with bat friendly fencing (not barbed wire), particularly streamside rainforest stands of Black Bean, to exclude grazing by stock.
Control and remove introduced weeds at known locations.
Protect and rehabilitate areas of rainforest and wet eucalypt forest, particularly rainforest along streams.

Information sources

() Wildlife Friendly Fencing http://www.wildlifefriendlyfencing.com
Churchill, S. (2008) Australian Bats. New Holland, Sydney.
Churchill, S. (2008) Australian Bats. Second Edition. New Holland, Sydney.
Hall, L.S., Richards, G.C. and Spencer, H.J. (1995) Eastern Tube-nosed Bat Nyctimene robinsoni. Pp. 426-8 in Strahan, R.(ed.) The Mammals of Australia. Reed Books, Sydney.
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

Other State	QLD	Known	None
South Eastern Queensland	Burringbar-Conondale Ranges	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

Sounds

Images

Eastern Tube-nosed Bat Wildlife Images
Enlarge image

Nature conservation

Threatened species