Also known as Greater Short-tailed Bat, Greater New Zealand Short-tailed Bat
Adapted to ground foraging unlike almost any other bats, these agile quadrupeds folded their delicate wings beneath protective leathery membranes to stalk across the leaf litter on robust hind limbs and thumbs. They spent daytime hours nestled in tree cavities or dark muttonbird burrows, emerging at dusk to forage on forest floors and hunt slow-flying insects low among coastal scrub. Catastrophic predation following a black rat invasion on Big South Cape Island in 1963 decimated their last secure sanctuary, leaving this remarkable ground-walking bat critically endangered and possibly extinct.
Critically EndangeredConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXCritically EndangeredRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyBeetles, Moths, Cave wētā
Predators
Black rat
Morepork
Feral cat
ThreatsPredation by invasive black rats and Pacific rats
HabitatsTemperate coastal rainforests, sea caves, and dense offshore island scrub
Life span10–15 years in the wild
Classification
OrderChiroptera
FamilyMystacinidae
GenusMystacina
SpeciesMystacina robusta
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
Low
Moderate
High
Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
What to notice
Recognizable by its sturdy build, large pointed ears, robust hind legs, and folded wing membranes that allow quadrupedal scurrying.
Support conservation
Never touch, capture, or illuminate suspected roosting colonies, and notify wildlife authorities immediately upon discovery.
Responsible observation
Report Sightings: Document precise GPS coordinates and notify the Department of Conservation immediately if a suspected roost or bat is observed.
Practice Biosecurity: Ensure all footwear, packs, and gear are completely free of stowaway rodents before travelling to predator-free island sanctuaries.
