Mammals
Seychelles Sheath-tailed Bat
Coleura seychellensis
In the shade of a granite boulder in the Seychelles, a few tiny sheath-tailed bats cling to the rock, among the last of a species once found across many islands.
Overview
The Seychelles sheath-tailed bat, Coleura seychellensis, is a Critically Endangered insect-eating bat found only in the Seychelles. Its tiny size, cave and boulder roosts, and survival in just a few small colonies make it one of the rarest bats in the world.
A bat on the brink
Because the species has vanished from most of its former islands, protecting the last roosts and their surrounding habitat is essential to keep it from extinction.
Status
Critically Endangered, with a decreasing population in a few small colonies.
Seychelles Sheath-tailed Bat: common questions
Where does the Seychelles sheath-tailed bat live?
It is endemic to the Seychelles, an island group in the western Indian Ocean.
Why is the Seychelles sheath-tailed bat critically endangered?
It has been affected by loss of forest and roosts and by introduced predators and competitors, and survives in only a few small colonies.
What does a sheath-tailed bat have in its tail?
Sheath-tailed bats have tail tips that poke through the membrane between the legs.
What does the Seychelles sheath-tailed bat eat?
It catches small flying insects over forest and open ground.