Coastal sheathtail-bat
Common name: Coastal sheathtail-bat
Scientific name: Taphozous australis
Animal group: Insectivorous bat
Conservation status: This species is listed as 'Vulnerable' in Queensland (Nature Conservation Act 1992).
Distribution: The doastal sheathtail bat is distributed in a thin band along the north-east Queensland coast from Shoalwater Bay to Cape York, extending no more than a few kilometres inland. This species is believed to be unevenly distributed throughout its range, due to its reliance on coastal roosts.
Description: One of the smaller members of the family Emballonuridae, whose most obvious diagnostic feature is the projection of their tail through the upper surface of the tail membrane, and the folding of their wing tips at rest above the remainder of the wing. The fur colour is variable, being grey to brown with slightly lighter belly fur, and an olive tinge to the lower abdomen. The tail membrane is furred up to the point where the tail projects through it. A pouch formed from skin over the throat is present in males, but is smaller and less distinct in females. Another pouch is present underneath the wing near the wrist in both sexes. Body weight: 19-23g.
Habitat: Forages within about one kilometre of the ocean, including sand dune scrub, mangroves, melaleuca swamps, coastal heathlands, open eucalypt forest, and grasslands. Coastal sheathtail bats that roost on coastal islands off Cape York Peninsula have been observed to fly to the mainland to forage.
Threatening processes: A decline in numbers in the southernmost colony at Cape Hillsborough has been attributed to increased human visitation. It is also suspected that alteration of foraging habitat through sand mining and coastal development threatens the species.
Recovery actions:
- Protect roosts from further disturbance, particularly roosts determined to be maternity sites,
- Determine foraging habitat preferences.
- Establish a long term monitoring program to detect any population changes and determine population viability.
Further information:
Duncan, A., Baker, G.B. and Montgomery, N. (Eds.). (1999) The Action Plan for Australian Bats. Environment Australia, Canberra.
Churchill, S. (1998) Australian bats. New Holland, Sydney.
Last updated: 31 August 2006