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

2. 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.

3. NatureMap

4. Pilbara Threatened Fauna Theme

6. 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