Miniopterus australis

Conservation: IUCN 2003 and IUCN / SSC Action Plan (2001) – Lower Risk (lc).

Sumber: Order Chiroptera - Family Vespertilionidae

Distribution: Philippines, Borneo, Java, Timor, Moluccas, southeast to Vanuatu and E Australia.

Sumber: Order Chiroptera - Family Vespertilionidae

DISTRIBUTION: Philippines, Borneo, and Java, southeast to Vanuatu (= New Hebrides) and E Australia.

Sumber: Order Chiroptera

Habitat. Subtropical rainforests, wet and dry sclerophyllous forests, coastal forests, river and coastal scrubs, and human settlements from sea level to elevations of ¢. 1500 m. The Little Long-fingered Bat is cave dwelling, and although it is more common in limestone areas, it is less strict than other species of Miniopterus in terms of roost selection. In Australia, it roosts near extensive areas of relatively dense vegetation. A colony of ¢. 30 individuals was found in a large hollow in a 30 m soapy box tree (Citronella moorei, Cardiopteridaceae) in Australia.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. It is said that the Little Long-fingered Bat can migrate, but the longest movement recorded — made by two females between nursery roost and another secondary roost — was 60 km in New South Wales. Very large maternity colonies with ¢. 100,000 individuals are known in Borneo and Queensland (Mount Etna Cave), but figures ofless than 10,000 females are more common. After the breeding season, a colony disperses to secondary roosts located within its territory. In Borneo, another type of social organization has been described. Little Long-fingered Bats are distributed inside the cave in small groups of less than ten individuals in erosion holes. These groups are considered harems because they are composed of one male and up to six females. This structure is maintained throughout the year, from the breeding period to reproductive inactivity. Groups are not stable in terms of composition or in their use of particular erosion holes in the cave. Little Long-fingered Bats often share roost with other cave-dwelling bats such as species of Rhinolophus, Hipposideros, or other Miniopterus.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List.