Southern Bent-wing Bat

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Southern Bent-wing Bat
Southern Bent-wing Bat
Southern Bent-wing Bat
Southern Bent-wing Bat

Southern Bent-wing Bat

Miniopterus schreibersii bassanii

Generally roosts in caves, road culverts, stormwater drains and old mines. Southern colonies hibernate during the colder winter months in hibernation caves. During October-November, maternity caves are used. Single young are born in December-mid January. 

Details Description
Type
Mammal
Group
Placental
Identifying Characteristics

Dark reddish-brown to dark brown fur on the back, slightly lighter on the underside. Short, rounded, roughly triangular ears, short rounded tragus, short muzzle and a distinctive domed head. This bat has a 'bent wing' appearance due to the terminal phalanx of the third finger being about four times the length of the middle phalanx. At rest, the last phalanx folds back along the first phalanx. The tail is enclosed in the tail membrane. Weight 10.5-19.5 g.
Distinctive Markings

As bats moult, areas of bright rufous fur appear. Older bats appear ginger coloured.
Diet

Carnivore, moths.
Habitat

Open grasslands, open woodland, wet and dry sclerophyll forest, rainforest, moonsoon forests and paperbark forests.
Native Status
Native to Australia
Taxonomy
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Mammalia
Order
Chiroptera
Family
Miniopteridae
Genus
Miniopterus
Species
schreibersii bassanii
Southern Bent-wing Bat
Victoria and the south-east corner of South Australia, northern and eastern coastal Australia.

Distribution maps indicate current and historic locations where species have been sighted.

Source: Atlas of Living Australia

Conservation Status
DEPI Advisory List
Critically endangered
FFG Act
Listed as threatened
EPBC Act
Critically endangered

The conservation status of species is listed within Victoria and Australia.

The Department of Environment and Primary Industry (DEPI) Advisory List consists of non-statutory advisory lists of rare or threatened flora and fauna within Victoria.

The Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 (FFG Act) lists threatened species in Victoria. Under the Act, an Action Statement is produced for each listed species.

The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) is the Australian Government’s key piece of environmental legislation, listing nationally threatened native species and ecological communities.