Eastern Long-eared Bat

About the Eastern Long-eared Bat

The eastern long-eared bat (Nyctophilus bifax) is a small flying mammal, a vespertilionid bat. It is found in eastern Australia and Papua New Guinea. The first description of the species was published in 1915 by Oldfield Thomas, based on a male type specimen obtained from the Herberton district in the north of Queensland.

Alternate names, aside from eastern long-eared bat, include the northern or north Queensland long-eared bat. A species of Nyctophilus, smaller insectivorous bats of the widespread and diverse family Vespertilionidae, the common evening bats.

The flight of the species is sometimes in quick and straight directions, less usual in other nyctophilus species, but they are able to assume a typical slower fluttering hover to capture prey. The foraging methods includes gleaning, taking insects from foliage or bark of plants, and adopts a perching stratagem or takes to the ground.

The species resides under the loose papery bark of melaleuca, amongst dense foliage, or in tree hollows. The distribution range is associated with wet forest habitat between Cape York and the north of New South Wales, rainforest and vegetation... Wikipedia →