Taphozous australis Click to enlarge image
Coastal Sheathtail Bats build up their body fat levels in autumn. They probably hibernate in winter. Cape Hillsborough N.P Qld 3.9.1984. Image: G B Baker
© Australian Museum

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Taphozous
    Species
    australis
    Family
    Emballonuridae
    Order
    Chiroptera
    Subclass
    Eutheria
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia

Introduction

Coastal Sheathtail Bats build up their body fat levels in autumn. They probably hibernate in winter. Pregnant females roost together.

Habitat

Coastal Sheathtail Bat roost in caves, cracks, under rock ledges and piles of rocks. They roost together in large colonies in large caves which they share with other microbat species. Smaller colonies roost together in smaller places. They hang separately from each other but small groups may huddle together in winter.

Distribution


Distribution data sourced from the Atlas of Living Australia

Feeding and diet

Coastal Sheathtail Bats eat beetles and other insects. They often return to their roost site after catching food to eat it.

Conservation status

Coastal Sheathtail Bats are vulnerable to disturbance from human visitors to cave roosts, destruction of caves by mining, and loss of feeding habitat by clearing and land degradation from agriculture.