Lesser short-tailed bat  (Mystacina tuberculata)

Description

The New Zealand lesser short-tailed bat is remarkable for the fact that it is the most terrestrial bat in the world; more at home on the forest floor than flying through the treetops (3). The tail is free of the wing membrane, and the wings can be folded beneath a leathery membrane when not in use so that the forearms act as front legs (3). The thumb has a large claw with a small talon, a feature unique amongst the smaller bats; the claws of the feet also have talons, to enable this bat to be agile on the ground and in the trees (2). The tiny lesser short-tailed bat is extremely furry and is a greyish brown colour on the upper surface whilst the underparts are paler (2). The muzzle is very short and the nostrils are oblong and vertically aligned (2). It is thought that the lesser short-tailed bat is the sole survivor of an ancient lineage; the greater short-tailed bat (Mystacina robusta) was last sighted in 1967 and is now believed to be Extinct (4).

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