Pilbara leaf-nosed bat Rhinonicteris aurantia Amy Mutton Zoologist Species and Communities Branch Nature Conservation Division Department of Environment and Conservation

Conservation Status In Western Australia the species is considered ‘Threatened Fauna’ and is listed under the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950. In 1994 the species was added to Schedule 1 (fauna which is rare or likely to become extinct), Wildlife Conservation (Specially Protected Fauna) Notice 1994, Government Gazette, WA, 8 April 1994. The species was listed as it met criterion C: ‘dependent on or restricted to habitats that are vulnerable and/or subject to factors that may cause its decline’. The reason for listing was: ‘it requires specialised breeding and roosting caves. It is uncommon in WA (estimated population is 400) and is under threat due to disturbance to its breeding and roosting habitat’. In 2006 the species was assigned the Rank of Vulnerable, using IUCN 2001 criteria, and met criterion D2: ‘population with a very restricted area of occupancy (typically less than 20km2) or number of locations (typically five or fewer) such that it is prone to the effects of human activities or stochastic events within a very short time period in an uncertain future, and is thus capable of becoming Critically Endangered or even Extinct in a very short time period’. This rank is used for management purposes.

NatureMap

Pilbara Threatened Fauna Theme

Records Sources include: Threatened and Priority Fauna Database Fauna Survey Returns System DEC Science Division NatureMap WA Museum specimen database WA Museum tissue sample data Environmental Consultants Mining Companies