The south eastern form of the Greater Long-eared Bat is also known as Eastern Long-eared Bat and has recently been described as new species Corben’s Long-eared Bat (N. corbeni). It is uniformly dark grey-brown. The ears are about 3 cm long and larger than the head. It has a low ridge of skin running between the eyes and across the nose. It has a head and body length of 5 – 7 cm and weighs about 14 grams.
Distribution
Overall, the distribution of the south eastern form coincides approximately with the Murray Darling Basin with the Pilliga Scrub region being the distinct stronghold for this species.
Habitat and ecology
- Inhabits a variety of vegetation types, including mallee, bulloke Allocasuarina leuhmanni and box eucalypt dominated communities, but it is distinctly more common in box/ironbark/cypress-pine vegetation that occurs in a north-south belt along the western slopes and plains of NSW and southern Queensland.
- Roosts in tree hollows, crevices, and under loose bark.
- Slow flying agile bat, utilising the understorey to hunt non-flying prey – especially caterpillars and beetles – and will even hunt on the ground.
- Mating takes place in autumn with one or two young born in late spring to early summer.