The Action Plan for Australian Bats
Environment Australia, 1999
ISBN 0 642 2546 363
Recovery outlines and taxon summaries (continued)
Taxon summary: Arnhem Leaf-nosed Bat
Family: Hipposideridae
Scientific name: Hipposideros diadema inornatus McKean, 1970
Common name: Arnhem Leaf-nosed Bat
Conservation status: Data Deficient
Past range and abundance
Unknown.
Present range and abundance
Known from only 11 localities from Top End of the Northern Territory, although it may be distributed more widely. The species has previously been recorded in Kakadu National Park and Litchfield National Park (McKean and Hertog 1979). However it was not recorded in a recent survey of Litchfield National Park (Griffiths et al. 1997), although the survey was not intensive with neither bat trapping nor echolocation recording undertaken.
Habitat
The species is known to roost in caves of the sandstone escarpment of the western Arnhem Land and Tolmer Falls (McKean 1970, McKean and Hertog 1979, Thomson 1991). These areas are surrounded by tropical savanna with patches of monsoon forest. The north Queensland subspecies, H. diadema reginae, is known to feed on a wide variety of invertebrates and may occasionally eat small birds (Pavey and Burwell 1997).
Current threats
Not known.
Recommended actions
- Conduct taxonomic studies (morphology and genetics) to resolve whether a different species from H. diadema reginae.
- Conduct targetted surveys to determine the distribution and abundance of the species and in particular to locate maternity sites.
- Carry out ecological research to determine:
- roost and maternity site selection;
- population dynamics; and
- threatening processes.
- Ensure effective protection and management of maternity sites.
- Review status based on knowledge gained through the above actions.
Bibliography
Griffiths A.D., Woinarski J.C.Z., Armstrong M.D., Dunlop C.R., Cowie I.D. and Horner P.G., 1997. Biological survey of Litchfield National Park. Parks and Wildlife Commission Technical Report No. 62. Parks and Wildlife Commission of the Northern Territory, Darwin.
Pavey C. and Burwell C. 1997. The diet of the diadem leaf-nosed bat Hipposideros diadema: confirmation of a morphologically-based prediction of carnivory. Journal of Zoology, London 243, 295–303.
McKean J.L. 1970. A new subspecies of the Horseshoe Bat Hipposideros diadema from the Northern Territory, Australia. West Australia Naturalist 11, 138–140.
McKean J.L. and Hertog A.L. 1979. Extension of range in the horseshoe bat. NT Naturalist 1, 5.
Thomson B.G. 1991. A Field Guide to Bats of the Northern Territory. Conservation Commission of the Northern Territory, Darwin.
Authors for the species
Michael Vardon
John Woinarski