Southern Bent-wing Bat (Southern)

Miniopterus orianae bassanii

Australia's Threatened Species Category

Critically Endangered

Listed since: 14/06/2021

IUCN's Threatened Species Category

Not Listed

Listed since: 0/01/1900

Population trend: 0

Other names: None

Priority Species? Yes

The Australian government's Threatened Species Action Plan 2022-2032 selected over 100 priority species derive from consultation with threatened species experts and the wider community. While all species are important, focusing on a limited number of species can help target effort and resources so that outcomes can be achieved, measured and shared.

Description

The Southern Bent-wing Bat is an insectivorous, cave-dwelling bat and is found from south-eastern South Australia to south-western Victoria. Southern Bent-wing Bats have been recorded living up to 22 years of age. They predominantly roost in limestone caves with their diet mainly consisting of moths.

Threats

A range of threats have been identified as potentially impacting on the Southern Bent-wing Bat with the most important are likely to be destruction and disturbance of roost sites (particularly maternity sites) and declining extent and quality of foraging habitat. An emerging threat is the likely introduction of White-nose Syndrome to Australia, which is predicted to severely impact the Southern Bent-wing Bat across its entire distribution.