| East-coast Free-tailed Bat | |
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Chiroptera |
| Family: | Molossidae |
| Genus: | Mormopterus |
| Subgenus: | M. (Micronomus) |
| Species: | M. norfolkensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Mormopterus norfolkensis Gray, 1840 |
|
The East-coast Free-tailed Bat or Eastern Little Mastiff Bat, (Mormopterus norfolkensis), is a species of bat native to Australia. It is listed as Vulnerable on the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 and is found along the east coast of Australia within New South Wales. It belongs to the subgenus Micronomus.
Little is known of the ecology of the species. Morphology of the species indicates that the species is a fast flyer adapted to foraging for insects in open areas. It roosts in tree hollows, roofs of buildings and has been recorded utilising artificial nest boxes. It is rarely captured, possibly due to the height at which it flies and/or preference for open areas which are not generally suitable for traps.
Research is currently being undertaken by The University of Newcastle and NSW Department of Primary Industries into the ecology of the species. Key components of the research are: landscape scale habitat use, landscape element habitat use, roosts selection and diet.
The Mormopterus genus is currently under taxonomic revision.