Thought to be extinct in Australia until 1981, these spider catching specialists have since been recorded in scattered populations across eastern Australia.
Conservation Status in NSW: Vulnerable
Commonwealth Status: Not Listed
The Golden-tipped Bat is a microbat known for its extremely quiet sonar and unique roosting habits. Once thought extinct and found only in Papua New Guinea, it has since been rediscovered in parts of eastern Australia.
A recent study on the Mid North Coast examined how fire impacts this species population, with bats carefully caught, assessed, and released. (Video Credit: Levi Brett, 2025)
Identification:
Weighing around six grams and with a wingspan of about 25 centimetres, this microbat has a distinctive appearance that gives it the name ‘golden-tipped’. It has curly dark brown fur with bright golden tips that extend along the tail, legs, and wings. This woolly fur not only gives the species its name but also provides thermal insulation and camouflage. Their large tail membrane and broad wings allow it to manoeuvre slowly and precisely which is essential for catching spiders without getting entangled in its web.
Habitat:
Golden-tipped bats are found in rainforests and nearby wet and dry sclerophyll forests at elevations up to 1000 metres. They have also been recorded in tall open forests, Casuarina-dominated riparian areas, and coastal Melaleuca forests.
The species prefer to roost in Yellow-throated Scrubwren and Brown Gerygone nests, where they modify the underside of the nest to create an access hole. Alternatively they have been known to roost under epiphytes, thick moss and in tree hollows.
Tree hollows are commonly used as maternity roosts which are located away from water sources.
Did you know?
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Distribution:
The Golden-tipped Bat is found along Australia’s east coast, from Cape York Peninsula in Queensland to Eden in New South Wales, as well as in Papua New Guinea. Its distribution is patchy, limited to moist forest habitats such as rainforest and wet sclerophyll gullies, and it is generally absent from drier inland areas. When foraging, they may travel up to 2 km from their roosting sites.
Diet:
The Golden-tipped Bat uses broad-bandwidth echolocation to detect moving prey, while high-frequency calls allow it to locate stationary prey. Its diet consists mainly of Araneida (spiders), with a strong preference for orb-weavers. This agile hunter can hover slowly and precisely, enabling it to navigate dense vegetation and pluck spiders directly from their webs. Although spiders are its primary food source, it also feeds on Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths) and Coleoptera (beetles).
Under Threat:
The golden-tipped bat faces a number of challenges that threaten its survival:
Clearing of riparian rainforest and understorey vegetation, reducing roosting and feeding areas.
Decline in yellow-throated scrub-wren and brown gerygone nests, which the bats rely on for shelter.
Habitat fragmentation, making it harder for populations to connect.
Intense wildfires that damage rainforest habitat.
Use of pesticides and chemicals near bat habitat.
Invasion of exotic weeds such as lantana and climbing vines, which change the natural forest structure.
Limited knowledge of the full range of threats to the species.
What can we do?
A targeted strategy is currently in development under the Saving Our Species program to protect the Golden-tipped Bat. Additionally, conservation of the golden-tipped bat requires a mix of habitat protection, research, and community action:
- Research: Continue studies into the species’ habitat requirements, breeding needs, population trends, and threats to guide effective conservation.
- Community engagement: Involve local groups, especially Indigenous organisations, in building and installing artificial roosts.
- Forest retention: Protect rainforest gullies and wet sclerophyll forest for roosting, and maintain dense understorey on mid- and upper slopes to support foraging.
Fire management: Apply fire regimes appropriate to each habitat type, and exclude fire from rainforest areas to safeguard roosting and foraging sites.
Never attempt to handle bats:
Whether injured or simply nearby, bats should not be handled as they can carry diseases and require specialist care.
If you find an injured bat, contact your local wildlife rescue service: FAWNA (02) 6581 4141.
Bats play a vital role in our ecosystem and should be admired and respected from afar.
Reference:
Atlas of Living Australia. (n.d.). Phoniscus papuensis (Dobson, 1878) — Golden-tipped Bat. https://bie.ala.org.au/species/urn%3Alsid%3Abiodiversity.org.au%3Aafd.taxon%3A5cb2f612-6ad3-485a-a946-42f4db6c2aec
Australian Museum. (2020, December 4). Golden-tipped Bat. The Australian Museum. https://australian.museum/learn/animals/bats/golden-tipped-bat/
FAWNA. (n.d.). Wildlife rescue guides and information. https://fawna.org.au/rescue-information/
iNaturalist. (n.d.). Observations of Pteropus (taxon 74874). https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?taxon_id=74874
Lloyd, A., Scanlon, A., Clegg, L., Link, R., Jarrett, L., Pursch, K., Williams, A., & Giese, M. (2024). Girrimarring wiirrilgal bulany ngayanbading (bat nest-type fur sun-like): blending traditional knowledge and western science to create roosting habitat for the threatened golden-tipped bat Phoniscus papuensis. Wildlife Research, 51. https://doi.org/10.1071/WR24065
NSW Government. (2024, May 4). Golden tipped bats make Indigenous woven roosts their home on NSW mid north coast. https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/news/golden-tipped-bats-make-indigenous-woven-roosts-their-home-on-nsw-mid-north-coast
Office of Environment and Heritage. (2022, June 6). Golden-tipped Bat (Phoniscus papuensis) profile. NSW Government. https://threatenedspecies.bionet.nsw.gov.au/profile?id=10444
