New Zealand Greater Short-tailed Bat
Mystacina robusta
- Critically endangered
- Card rarity: Legendary
- Mammals
The New Zealand greater short-tailed bat is one of two species of New Zealand short-tailed bats, a family (Mystacinidae) unique to New Zealand. Larger than the New Zealand lesser short-tailed bat, there have been no confirmed sightings of this species since 1965 and it is considered to be critically endangered, if not extinct. In prehistoric times it lived in the North and South Islands but by the time of European arrival was restricted to small islands near Stewart Island / Rakiura. A rat invasion of Taukihepa/Big South Cape Island in 1963 was thought to have led to the species' extinction, however, recent surveys have raised hopes that the species may still exist.
Classification
- Class
- Mammalia
- Order
- Chiroptera
- Family
- Mystacinidae
- Genus
- Mystacina