East Coast Freetail Bat

Family: Molossidae
Scientific name: Mormopterus norfolkensis

Where they roost:
Hollows or under the loose bark of trees in open forests. They roost together in small colonies.

What they eat:
Flying insects. They fly quickly over the tops of trees in forests or along the edges of forests to hunt their prey.

Conservation threats:
Vulnerable to loss of tree hollows and loss of feeding grounds by forestry activities, clearing for agriculture and housing.

Other information:
East coast mastiff bats used to be called Norfolk Island mastiff bats, but in fact they have never been found on that island.

Photo © GB Baker/Nature Focus