CR

New Zealand Greater Short-tailed Bat

Mystacina robusta

Unknown

Overview

The New Zealand greater short-tailed bat is one of two species of New Zealand short-tailed bats, a family (Mystacinidae) unique to New Zealand. Larger than the New Zealand lesser short-tailed bat, there have been no confirmed sightings of this species since 1965 and it is considered to be critically endangered, if not extinct. In prehistoric times it lived in the North and South Islands but by the time of European arrival was restricted to small islands near Stewart Island / Rakiura.

A rat invasion of Taukihepa/Big South Cape Island in 1963 was thought to have led to the species' extinction, however, recent surveys have raised hopes that the species may still exist.

The New Zealand Greater Short-tailed Bat faces extinction primarily due to introduced mammalian predators, particularly rats and stoats, which prey on both adults and young in roost sites. Habitat destruction from deforestation and agricultural conversion has eliminated much of its native forest habitat. The species' ground-foraging behavior and communal roosting habits make it exceptionally vulnerable to predation, while its slow reproductive rate prevents population recovery from these ongoing pressures.

Threat summary

Habitat

This species inhabited native temperate forests and woodlands of New Zealand, particularly areas with large hollow trees suitable for communal roosting. It foraged both in forest canopies and on the ground among leaf litter, making it unique among bat species for its terrestrial hunting behavior.

Forest· majorMarine coastal/supratidal· majorRocky areas· majorMarine neritic· major

Conservation measures underway

Species recovery

Other threatened species in MYSTACINIDAE

VU

New Zealand Lesser Short-tailed Bat

Mystacina tuberculata

Declining

Threatened in New Zealand

VU

Copper Shark

Carcharhinus brachyurus

Declining
VU

Wrybill

Anarhynchus frontalis

Declining
VU

Cook's Petrel

Pterodroma cookii

Increasing
VU

Pycroft's Petrel

Pterodroma pycrofti

Increasing

Frequently asked questions

Why is New Zealand Greater Short-tailed Bat classified as Critically Endangered?
New Zealand Greater Short-tailed Bat is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. The New Zealand Greater Short-tailed Bat faces extinction primarily due to introduced mammalian predators, particularly rats and stoats, which prey on both adults and young in roost sites. Habitat destruction from deforestation and agricultural conversion has eliminated much of its native forest habitat. The species' ground-foraging behavior and communal roosting habits make it exceptionally vulnerable to predation, while its slow reproductive rate prevents population recovery from these ongoing pressures.
Where does New Zealand Greater Short-tailed Bat live?
New Zealand Greater Short-tailed Bat occurs in New Zealand. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to New Zealand Greater Short-tailed Bat?
The main threats to New Zealand Greater Short-tailed Bat are 8.1, ai-1, ai-2, and ai-3. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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