New Zealand Bats - Pekapeka

Bats are New Zealand's only native land mammal.

Greater short-tailed bats are thought to be extinct, last seen April 1965. The Long-tailed Bat and Short-tailed Bat are both classified as threatened. They are in danger of extinction.

The Short-tailed Bat has a relationship with the rare plant, Woodrose (pua reinga). As the bats move around eating the nectar they pollinate the plants. New Zealand short-tailed bats are the Woodrose's only pollinator.

The Long-tailed Bat as seen in the video below, when adult, weighs 7 -10 grams and has a wingspan of about 260mm. Their diet includes insects & nectar.

The Long-tailed Bat is sometimes referred to as the Fantail of the night due to the similar unpredictable flight pattern.

The Short-tailed Bat has no tail, is larger and less often seen as it comes out well after dark.

In proverb, the Maori refer to bats as pekapeka and associate them with the mythical bird of the night, hokioi.

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Below. Baby New Zealand Long-tailed Bat that was found by Department of Conservation staff and released soon after.