Nyctophilus howensis

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

View Printer Friendly

Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	MAMMALIA	CHIROPTERA	VESPERTILIONIDAE

Scientific Name:

Nyctophilus howensis

Species Authority:

McKean, 1975

Common Name/s:

English

–

Lord Howe Long-eared Bat

Taxonomic Notes:

In describing the species, McKean (1975) provisionally placed it with Nyctophilus, but the generic status of the species requires re-evaluation because it might not belong with Nyctophilus (H. Parnaby pers. comm.).

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Critically Endangered D ver 3.1

Year Assessed:

2008

Assessor/s

Hall, L., Lumsden, L. & Parnaby, H.

Evaluator/s:

Lamoreux, J. (Global Mammal Assessment Team), Racey, P.A., Medellín, R. & Hutson, A.M. (Chiroptera Red List Authority)

Justification:
Listed as Critically Endangered (Possibly Extinct) because, although this species is only known from a single skull found in 1972 and extensive surveys have failed to locate it since, islanders continue to report seeing two different sized bats. There is only one other bat species known from Lord Howe Island, such that these recent sightings raise the possibility that this species is not extinct. Were the species to be found, its population would almost certainly be less than 50 individuals.

History:

1996

–

Extinct

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	This species is endemic to Lord Howe Island, New South Wales, Australia.
Countries:	Possibly extinct: Australia
Range Map:	(click map to view full version)

Population [top]

Population:	It is known only from an incomplete skull that was considered to be a sub-fossil until a recent re-examination indicated that it was from the 20^th century (Richards 2008).
Population Trend:	Unknown

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	The only known specimen (an incomplete skull) was collected from a ledge in a cave that may have been an owl roost (Duncan et al. 1999).
Systems:	Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	The reasons for its decline are unclear, however, it is possible that this species was predated by introduced owls and rats.

Major Threat(s):

The reasons for its decline are unclear, however, it is possible that this species was predated by introduced owls and rats.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Introduced owls have now been eradicated from Lord Howe Island and programmes to eradicate rats are underway (Duncan et al. 1999). Extensive surveys for this species have not located any remaining animals (Duncan et al. 1999). Contemporary reports by locals, however, of two sizes of bats flying at dusk, the larger currently unidentified (N. Carlile pers. comm.), indicates the need for further survey work. If it were found to be extant, further studies would be needed into the abundance, natural history, and threats to this species.

Conservation Actions:

Introduced owls have now been eradicated from Lord Howe Island and programmes to eradicate rats are underway (Duncan et al. 1999).

Extensive surveys for this species have not located any remaining animals (Duncan et al. 1999). Contemporary reports by locals, however, of two sizes of bats flying at dusk, the larger currently unidentified (N. Carlile pers. comm.), indicates the need for further survey work. If it were found to be extant, further studies would be needed into the abundance, natural history, and threats to this species.

Citation:	Hall, L., Lumsden, L. & Parnaby, H. 2008. Nyctophilus howensis. In: IUCN 2009. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2009.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 10 February 2010.
Disclaimer:	To make use of this information, please check the <Terms of Use>.
Feedback:	If you see any errors or have any questions or suggestions on what is shown on this page, please fill in the feedback form so that we can correct or extend the information provided