Orange leafnosed-bat
Orange leafnosed-bat
© Bruce Thomson
Common name: Orange leafnosed-bat
Scientific name: Rhinonicteris aurantius
Animal group: Insectivorous bat
Conservation status: This species is listed as 'Vulnerable' in Queensland (Nature Conservation Act 1992).
Distribution: The eastern edge of its distribution extends into north-western Queensland, with colonies near Camooweal and at Lawn Hill Gorge. The distribution continues through the north of Northern Territory to the Kimberley in Western Australia.
Description: The only member of the genus Rhinonicteris, which is endemic to Australia. Orange leafnosed-bats in the Pilbara are treated as a separate form to those from the Kimberley, Northern Territory and Queensland. This bat has a noseleaf consisting of flaps and lobes of skin forming complex structures around the nostrils. The most common fur colour is bright orange with brown tips, although brown, yellow, or white fur (and skin) occurs less frequently. Body weight: 6.5-11.2g.
Habitat: Foraging occurs in a range of habitats including grassland, open woodland, savannah woodland, and spinifex covered hills, although the habitat use may be more influenced by roost availability. The microhabitats used for foraging range from 10cm above the ground or water, to the understorey, within canopy, and above canopy.
Behaviour: Nocturnally active. They exit the cave or mine roost in pairs, flying rapidly around one metre above the ground in a zig-zag pattern. This behaviour may serve to reduce the risk of predation from ghost bats Macroderma gigas, which often occur in the same roosts. The flight becomes less erratic further from the roost, where they forage singularly in the forest. Orange leafnosed-bats forage on the wing in continual flight for periods of up to six hours. They are very sensitive to human disturbance to their daytime roosts, quickly flying away from an intruder to deeper parts of the cave.
Threatening processes: Human visitation to cave roosts, disturbance or destruction to roosts from mining activities and collapse or flooding of ageing mine roosts.
Recovery actions:
- To conserve this species roosts need to be protected from further disturbance or destruction and collapsed sections of mines have to be reinforced.
- Monitor colonies in mines to ensure populations are stabilised.
- Survey within known distribution for additional roosts.
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