New Zealand was once home to three species of endemic bats. These included the New Zealand greater short-tailed bat (extinct), the New Zealand lesser short-tailed bat, and the New Zealand long-tailed bat. Short-tailed bats spend much of their time foraging on the ground and are divided into three sub-species found in Northland and Little Barrier Island, the Central North Island, and the bottom of the South Island.

Long-tailed bats are active fliers that will catch insects on the wing. They are about the length of a human thumb, weighing in at 8-11 grams. Long-tailed bats are distributed across New Zealand, however, individuals in different regions have notable variations in their foraging behaviours.

Long-tailed bats are affected by numerous threats. These include tree clearance (for firewood, urban expansion, and agriculture), mammalian predation, and exclusion from roosting sites by mammals, birds, and wasps.

(Information adapted from Department of Conservation website)