{{Short description|Species of bat}} {{Speciesbox | name = Eastern long-eared bat | image=Eastern Long-eared Bat, Nyctophilus bifax - Flickr - GregTheBusker.jpg | status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = <ref name="iucn">{{cite iucn |author=Stawski, C. |author2=Pennay, M. |year=2021 |title=''Nyctophilus bifax'' |volume=2021 |article-number=e.T85289369A85289379 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T85289369A85289379.en |access-date=17 December 2023}}</ref> | taxon = Nyctophilus bifax | authority = Thomas, 1915<ref name="Thomas1915" /> | range_map= | synonyms = }}
The '''eastern long-eared bat''' ('''''Nyctophilus bifax''''') is a small flying mammal, a vespertilionid bat. It is found in eastern Australia and Papua New Guinea.
== Taxonomy == The first description of the species was published in 1915 by Oldfield Thomas,<ref name="Thomas1915" /> based on a male type specimen obtained from the Herberton district in the north of Queensland.<ref name="AFD" />
Alternate names, aside from eastern long-eared bat, include the northern or north Queensland long-eared bat.<ref name="Andrew2015" />
== Description == A species of ''Nyctophilus'', smaller insectivorous bats of the widespread and diverse family Vespertilionidae, the common evening bats.
The flight of the species is sometimes in quick and straight directions, less usual in other nyctophilus species, but they are able to assume a typical slower fluttering hover to capture prey. The foraging methods includes gleaning, taking insects from foliage or bark of plants, and adopts a perching stratagem or takes to the ground.<ref name="Andrew2015" />
==Distribution and habitat == The species resides under the loose papery bark of melaleuca, amongst dense foliage, or in tree hollows. The distribution range is associated with wet forest habitat between Cape York and the north of New South Wales, rainforest and vegetation at permanent water are the typical environs. Drier areas nearby the wetter habitat is also used by the species, in woodland and forests that provide suitable food or refuge. They are often seen hunting at the edge of forests, using their characteristic foraging techniques; a well known population occurs at the Chillagoe-Mungana Caves National Park.<ref name="Andrew2015" /> thumb|Distribution range derived from IUCN listing, 2008. In Australia, the range extends into subtropical regions, and it has been recorded from a few widely scattered localities in New Guinea.<ref name="iucn" /><ref name="Andrew2015" />
The IUCN red list (2021) notes the species as least concern, widespread and not shown to be in decline. The assessment included the subspecies ''Nyctophilus bifax daedalus'', but anticipated the elevation to full species.<ref name="iucn" /><ref name=Parnaby2009 />{{efn|Parnaby, 2008. ''pers comm'' to IUCN; ''op cit.'', 2009.}}
==References== {{Reflist|refs=
<ref name="Thomas1915">{{cite journal |last1=Thomas |first1=Oldfield |title=Notes on the genus Nyctophilus |journal=The Annals and Magazine of Natural History; Zoology, Botany, and Geology |date=1915 |volume=15 |series=8 |issue=89 |pages=493–499 |url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/part/61818 |issn=0374-5481|doi=10.1080/00222931508693662 }}</ref>
<ref name="AFD">{{cite web |title=Species ''Nyctophilus bifax'' Thomas, 1915 |url=https://biodiversity.org.au/afd/taxa/Nyctophilus |website=Australian Faunal Directory |publisher=biodiversity.org.au |access-date=20 January 2019 |language=en}}</ref>
<ref name="Andrew2015">{{cite book |last1=Andrew |first1=D. |title=Complete Guide to Finding the Mammals of Australia. |date=2015 |publisher=CSIRO Publishing |isbn=978-0-643-09814-5 |page=330}}</ref>
<ref name=Parnaby2009>{{cite journal | author = Parnaby, H. | date = 2009 | title = A taxonomic review of Australian greater long-eared bats previously known as ''Nyctophilus timoriensis'' (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) and some associated taxa | journal = Australian Zoologist | volume = 35 | url=http://australianmuseum.net.au/Uploads/Documents/9879/Parnaby_2009%5B1%5D.pdf | pages = 38–81 | doi = 10.7882/AZ.2009.005| doi-access = free }}</ref>
}}
{{Notelist}}
{{Vespertilionidae|V.|Ny.}} {{Taxonbar|from=Q1834532}}
Category:Nyctophilus Category:Bats of Oceania Category:Bats of Australia Category:Mammals of Papua New Guinea Category:Mammals of Western New Guinea Category:Mammals of New South Wales Category:Mammals of Queensland Category:Mammals described in 1915 Category:Taxa named by Oldfield Thomas Category:Bats of New Guinea