Coleura seychellensis
CR

Coleura seychellensis

Declining

Photo: Photo: Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

The Seychelles sheath-tailed bat faces severe population decline due to habitat destruction from coastal development and tourism infrastructure expansion across its limited island range. Introduced predators, particularly cats and rats, pose significant threats to roosting colonies, while the species' extreme habitat specialization makes it vulnerable to even minor environmental changes. Climate change and sea-level rise threaten the low-lying coastal areas where this bat typically forages and roosts.

Threat summary

Habitat

This bat inhabits coastal areas, caves, and rocky crevices on granitic islands in the Seychelles archipelago. It typically roosts in sea caves, granite boulder formations, and occasionally human-made structures near the coastline.

Forest· majorMarine coastal/supratidal· majorWetlands (inland) - Bogs, marshes, swamps, fens· majorRocky areas· majorCaves and subterranean habitats· major

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protectionSpecies recoveryAwareness & communicationsLegislationCompliance and enforcement

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Coleura seychellensis classified as Critically Endangered?
Coleura seychellensis 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 Seychelles sheath-tailed bat faces severe population decline due to habitat destruction from coastal development and tourism infrastructure expansion across its limited island range. Introduced predators, particularly cats and rats, pose significant threats to roosting colonies, while the species' extreme habitat specialization makes it vulnerable to even minor environmental changes. Climate change and sea-level rise threaten the low-lying coastal areas where this bat typically forages and roosts.
Where does Coleura seychellensis live?
Coleura seychellensis occurs in Seychelles. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Coleura seychellensis?
The main threats to Coleura seychellensis are 2.1, 5.3, 8.1, and ai-1. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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