Corben's Long-eared Bat

Nyctophilus corbeni is a small insectivorous bat distinguished by its notably large ears, which give the genus its common "long-eared" designation and support highly sensitive echolocation and passive listening for prey. It forages by gleaning insects from foliage and bark as well as capturing prey in flight, typically within cluttered vegetation below the forest canopy. Like other vespertilionid bats, it roosts in tree hollows, under bark, and in other crevices during the day, emerging at night to feed, and plays a role in regulating insect populations within its ecosystem.

The species is endemic to Australia, occurring across inland regions of New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, and South Australia. It inhabits forest and woodland environments, particularly box and ironbark eucalypt communities, as well as vegetation along permanent inland rivers and streams and associated wetland habitats, where mature trees provide essential roosting hollows.

Population trends are decreasing, driven by ongoing habitat loss and degradation. Livestock grazing and ranching alter understorey vegetation and reduce prey availability, while logging and wood harvesting remove mature trees needed for roosting hollows, which take decades to form. Altered fire regimes and fire suppression practices affect vegetation structure and hollow-bearing tree availability, and broader habitat shifting from land clearing and agricultural conversion further fragments populations.

Invasive species, including predators and competitors for tree hollows, add additional pressure.

Conservation measures include protection of remaining habitat within reserves, retention of hollow-bearing trees in forestry and land management guidelines, and monitoring programs to track population status and distribution. Research into roosting ecology and habitat requirements continues to inform management.

Given ongoing habitat fragmentation and slow hollow-tree regeneration, the species' outlook remains concerning, with continued population decline expected unless habitat protection and connectivity efforts are sustained and expanded.