Fawn Roundleaf Bat (Hipposideros cervinus)

Conservation status

Queensland, Nature Conservation Act 1992: Vulnerable.

Identification

This is a small horseshoe or leaf-nosed bat with a distinctive noseleaf and variable fawn, orange or grey fur. Identification in the field is most reliable when several features are considered together, because the source material provides limited information on separation from other Australian Hipposideros species.

The fur is bicoloured, with a pale base and a distal portion that can be fawn, bright orange or grey. The noseleaf is pink and has two lateral leaflets. The ears are relatively large and somewhat pointed at the tips.

Forearm length: Up to 5 cm

Weight: Up to 10 g

Diagnostic features: Pink noseleaf with two lateral leaflets, relatively large pointed ears, and variable fawn, orange or grey bicoloured fur

Identification: Similar species and field assessment

The supplied material does not provide a diagnostic comparison with other Australian leaf-nosed bats. Do not rely on fur colour alone, as colour varies from fawn to bright orange and grey. Confirm records with an appropriately experienced bat ecologist using photographs, measurements, echolocation analysis or a reference collection where permitted.

• Record the noseleaf, including the two lateral leaflets, ear shape, fur colour and forearm length where safe and authorised.
• Treat small leaf-nosed bats encountered during roost inspections as potential fawn leaf-nosed bats until identification is resolved.

Identification: Field signs

The source material does not describe tracks, scats, calls, nests or other species-specific field signs. The species may occur in large cave roosts, so direct observations of bats entering or leaving a cave can be important evidence of use.

Reported cave roost size in Borneo: More than 100,000 bats in a single roost

• Inspect caves, culverts and suitable man-made structures for bats and record the number, location and condition of any roosting groups.
• Use bat-specific survey methods and suitably qualified personnel where acoustic or capture-based identification is required.

Distribution: Australian range

Hipposideros cervinus has a broad Indo-Pacific distribution that includes Australia. The supplied documents do not provide an Australian state-by-state range, bioregion map, population estimate or population trend.

The species is reported from Australia within a wider range extending from Peninsular Malaysia through Sumatra, Java, Borneo, the Philippines, eastern Indonesia and New Guinea to Australia and islands of the western Pacific.

Australian range detail available: Australia is included in the published range, but no states or bioregions are specified in the supplied material

Distribution: Strongholds and population status

No Australian strongholds, subpopulations, total population estimate or population trend are given in the supplied documents. The species is included in the Australian Government survey guidelines for threatened bats, and the supplied project information identifies it as Vulnerable in Queensland.

Known population estimate: Not provided

Known population trend: Not provided

Known Australian strongholds: Not provided

• Treat records from Queensland as potentially significant during project planning and fauna surveys.
• Obtain current state database and regional records before clearing where the species could occur.

Habitat

The species uses a broad range of terrestrial habitats, from dense forest to modified areas. The supplied material does not specify Australian vegetation communities, elevation limits or climate limits.

Recorded habitats include dense forest, open woodland, plantations and gardens. In Borneo, the species is described as common and widespread in caves, while it also roosts away from caves, possibly beneath man-made structures.

Habitat types: Dense forest, open woodland, plantations and gardens

Elevation range: Not provided

Australian vegetation communities: Not provided

• Map and retain potential roosting structures and nearby native vegetation during site planning.
• Assess both intact and modified habitat, because gardens, plantations and open woodland may be used as well as dense forest.

Habitat: Site features to assess

The documents identify caves and possible man-made roost structures, together with forest-edge areas where bats forage near lights. They do not provide minimum patch sizes, tree sizes, canopy heights or water requirements.

• Inspect caves, buildings and other enclosed or sheltered structures before demolition, refurbishment or night lighting works.
• Retain connections between potential roosts and nearby forest, woodland or other insect-rich habitat where practicable.

Foraging habitat: Diet and feeding behaviour

The fawn leaf-nosed bat is insectivorous and hunts small insects in flight. It can forage very close to the ground and may use forest edges and lit buildings where insects gather.

The diet consists of small insect prey. The species is able to fly very low to the ground while hunting. At Lambir Hills, bats were observed foraging close to a brightly lit building at the edge of forest after a brief shower of rain.

Diet: Small insect prey

Flight height described: Very low to the ground

Observed feeding location: Within about 1 m of an observer near a forest-edge building

• Survey likely feeding habitat at forest edges, around open woodland, gardens and other areas where flying insects may concentrate.
• Record low flight activity near buildings, lights and wet-weather insect concentrations as evidence of use.

Foraging habitat: Foraging range

No home-range size, commuting distance or foraging radius is provided. The species' use of caves and forest-edge feeding areas means that roosts may be connected to feeding habitat outside the immediate roost structure.

Foraging range: Not provided

• Avoid assuming that habitat is unused because no bats are present during a daytime inspection.
• Consider night surveys around roost entrances, forest edges, open woodland, gardens and lit structures where project impacts may alter insect availability or flight paths.

Breeding habitat: Breeding information

The supplied documents do not provide breeding dates, litter size, gestation, age at maturity or lifespan for this species. Breeding assessments should therefore focus on locating occupied roosts and avoiding disturbance to bats using them.

No species-specific breeding biology is given in the supplied material. The documents do not state the mating season, birth period, litter size, gestation period, age at maturity or lifespan.

Breeding season: Not provided

Litter size: Not provided

Gestation: Not provided

Age at maturity: Not provided

Lifespan: Not provided

Breeding habitat: Breeding habitat considerations

Caves are documented roosts, and the species may also use man-made structures. Because the supplied material does not identify maternity-roost characteristics, treat any occupied roost as potentially important for breeding until assessed by a bat ecologist.

• Complete roost inspections before clearing, demolition or construction near caves and enclosed structures.
• Avoid sealing, lighting or entering occupied roosts without a species-appropriate management plan and required approvals.
• Use current Australian survey guidance when designing surveys for a potential threatened bat record.

Sheltering habitat: Roost types

Caves are important documented shelters, and the species may also roost beneath man-made structures. No dimensions, temperature requirements, tree-hollow requirements or roost-entry specifications are provided.

In Borneo, the species is described as the most common and widespread insectivorous bat in caves, with more than 100,000 individuals reported in one cave roost. It also roosts away from caves, possibly beneath man-made structures.

Largest reported roost mentioned: More than 100,000 bats in one cave in Borneo

Roost dimensions: Not provided

• Inspect caves, rock shelters and man-made structures that provide dark, sheltered spaces.
• Check bridges, buildings, culverts and similar structures where bats could shelter, particularly before demolition or major repairs.

Sheltering habitat: Roost protection on projects

The documents do not state whether the species uses tree hollows, foliage, mines, tunnels or culverts in Australia. Avoid applying unverified roost preferences to a site assessment.

• Have a suitably qualified person inspect potential roosts before disturbance.
• Record roost location, access points, evidence of occupation and the timing of bat activity.
• Manage lighting, vibration, dust, noise and access around occupied roosts during construction.

Threats: Roost loss and disturbance

The supplied material does not quantify threats or population decline for this species. For Australian projects, the clearest evidence-based risks are direct disturbance or loss of caves and other roost structures, together with loss of habitat used for feeding.

Cave roosts can contain very large numbers of bats, and the species may also use man-made structures. Clearing, demolition, sealing, lighting, vibration or construction at these sites could directly disturb or remove roost habitat.

• Inspect potential roosts before clearing, demolition or construction.
• Do not seal or modify an occupied cave or structure without ecological assessment and any required approvals.
• Keep construction lighting away from roost entrances and avoid directing lights into known flight paths.

Threats: Habitat loss and fragmentation

The species uses dense forest, open woodland, plantations and gardens, and forages near forest edges. Clearing or fragmentation can remove feeding habitat and may reduce connections between roosts and feeding areas.

• Retain native vegetation around known or potential roosts where practicable.
• Assess night-time flight activity and forest-edge use before removing vegetation or changing lighting.

Threats: Other pressures

The supplied documents do not provide species-specific evidence on roads, fire, predators, disease or hydrology change. These pressures should be assessed where they affect caves, man-made roosts, insect prey or access between roosting and feeding areas.

• Do not infer that a site is free of bats from the absence of daytime observations.
• Seek current regional advice for fire, disease and fauna handling controls before works begin.

Survey methodology: 1. Night activity surveys

Survey effort should focus on detecting a small, insectivorous bat that uses forest, open woodland, plantations, gardens, caves and some man-made structures. The supplied guideline extract lists this species but does not provide species-specific survey effort, seasons or transect requirements, so the project ecologist must document a site and risk-based method.

Survey after darkness when bats are active, with particular attention to forest edges, open woodland, gardens, plantations, cave entrances and buildings or other structures that could provide roosting space.

Use an approved bat detection method selected by a qualified bat ecologist, such as acoustic detection or direct observation, and record the equipment, detector settings, survey area, start and finish times, weather and results.

Give particular attention to low flight paths close to the ground, because the species has been observed hunting low over the ground and within 1 metre of an observer near a forest-edge building.

The supplied information records activity after a brief shower of rain, but it does not establish a season or weather threshold for survey, so do not treat rainfall as a required survey condition.

Forearm length: Up to 5 cm

Weight: Up to 10 g

Recorded roost size in Borneo: More than 100,000 bats in a single cave roost

• Define the survey area before fieldwork and include all potential roosts and connected foraging habitat within the disturbance footprint.
• Repeat surveys when the project risk, habitat quality or access constraints mean that one survey cannot adequately assess use of the site.
• Do not enter a cave or disturb a suspected roost solely to improve detection; obtain the required approvals and use a bat specialist where roost disturbance is possible.

Survey methodology: 2. Roost and structure inspection

Inspect caves, cave entrances and suitable man-made structures for signs of roosting before clearing or demolition is planned.

Record the location, access point, structure type, visible bats, staining, droppings, noise, odour and any other evidence of use, without entering or handling bats unless the person is authorised and the activity is approved.

Treat caves and structures as potential roost habitat even where no bats are visible during a daytime inspection, because the species can roost away from caves, including beneath man-made structures.

• Arrange specialist inspection of any cave, culvert, building, bridge or similar structure that may be removed, sealed, lit or altered.
• Use non-invasive observation first and retain an exclusion or demolition plan that has been reviewed by the project fauna ecologist.
• Record whether the feature is retained, excluded from works, modified, or scheduled for controlled removal.

Survey methodology: 3. Survey conditions and effort records

The supplied extracts do not specify a required number of nights, hours, trap nights, transect length, survey area or weather limits for this species.

Set and justify the number of survey nights, survey hours and detector locations in the field plan, based on the amount of suitable habitat, the presence of caves or structures, the scale of clearing and the consequences of missing a roost.

Record negative results with the same detail as positive results, including areas not surveyed and the reason they were inaccessible.

• Do not report an absence from a single unsuccessful visit unless the project ecologist explains why the method and conditions were adequate for the site.
• Retain raw acoustic files, call identifications, photographs, location data, weather records and observer details with the project file.
• Use the species name Hipposideros cervinus in field records and check identifications against the available Australian bat guidance.

Survey methodology: Minimum effort and reporting

• Use the approved survey design and record the actual nights, hours, detector locations, inspection areas and survey conditions for every visit.
• Have uncertain records checked by a person experienced in Australian bat identification before they are used to clear habitat.
• Report confirmed records, roosts and significant survey findings to the relevant state wildlife database and include the record coordinates, date, method, observer and evidence.
• Retain the survey report, raw data, photographs and any specialist advice with the project environmental records.

Before habitat disturbance: Avoid and minimise

Avoid disturbance to caves, structures and connected foraging habitat wherever practicable. The species occurs in dense forest, open woodland, plantations and gardens, and may roost in caves or beneath man-made structures.

Retain caves, cave entrances and man-made structures that may provide roosting habitat.

Retain connected patches of forest, open woodland, plantation and garden vegetation around known or potential roosts.

Keep lighting, noise, vibration, dust and night work away from retained roost entrances and known low flight paths where practicable.

Do not remove a potential roost because no bats were seen during a brief inspection.

• Map all potential roosts and the vegetation that connects them to the work area.
• Set site-specific no-go areas and buffers around roosts after advice from the project bat ecologist; the supplied documents do not provide a standard buffer distance.
• Stage clearing so that retained roosts and foraging habitat remain available while other works proceed.

Before habitat disturbance: Approvals and work planning

Confirm the species status and approval pathway before works begin, including the Queensland state listing supplied for this project and any other state or territory requirements that apply at the site.

Screen the action under the EPBC Act and document the outcome, noting that the supplied listing information states that the species is not nationally listed under that Act.

Obtain any required permits for handling, exclusion, relocation, cave access, demolition or wildlife rehabilitation before a fauna spotter catcher starts work.

Include bat survey results, roost decisions, exclusion controls, stop-work triggers and reporting requirements in the fauna management plan.

• Schedule works to avoid known periods of roost use or high activity where the project ecologist identifies a timing risk; the supplied documents do not specify a breeding season or restricted months.
• Use staged clearing and staged demolition where a roost cannot be retained in place.
• Nominate the authorised fauna spotter catcher, bat specialist, site supervisor, wildlife carer and veterinarian before work starts.

Before habitat disturbance: Pre-clearance preparation

Complete a pre-clearance inspection shortly before works, including caves, buildings, bridges, culverts and other structures that may be used for roosting.

Mark no-go areas, retained vegetation, roost entrances, access routes and any features requiring specialist supervision.

Install exclusion fencing where it can keep machinery, workers and stored materials away from retained roosts and foraging habitat.

Brief machinery operators and supervisors on the location of controls, the species identification, the stop-work process and the requirement to report sightings immediately.

• Do not seal, light, fill or demolish a potential roost until the fauna management plan allows that action.
• Check that fencing and signs remain intact after rain, vehicle movements and site changes.
• Keep a clear access route for the fauna spotter catcher and emergency wildlife response.

During habitat disturbance: Daily controls

The fauna spotter catcher must control the immediate work area and maintain direct communication with machinery operators. Work must stop when a bat, active roost or unexpected habitat feature is found and the approved response has not yet been confirmed.

Inspect exclusion fencing, signs, no-go areas, roost entrances and access routes before work starts each day.

Position the fauna spotter catcher where the active clearing or demolition face can be seen and where machinery can stop safely.

Use a clear radio or hand-signal protocol so the fauna spotter catcher can stop machinery immediately.

Avoid unnecessary night lighting directed at retained caves, structures or vegetation used by the species.

• Complete a daily pre-start briefing covering the planned work area, retained features, weather, access constraints and stop-work triggers.
• Keep machinery outside marked exclusion areas unless the approved method specifically allows supervised entry.
• Record all sightings, roost observations, control failures, incidents and corrective actions on the same day.

During habitat disturbance: Handling habitat and structures

Treat caves, cave entrances and man-made structures as potential bat habitat and do not disturb them without the approved specialist method.

If clearing exposes a bat, roost or unexpected cavity, stop the nearby activity and keep people and machinery clear until the fauna spotter catcher or bat specialist gives instructions.

Do not relocate bats from a roost, seal an entrance or demolish a structure while bats are present unless that action is authorised under the fauna management plan and relevant permits.

The supplied documents do not identify hollow-bearing trees, logs, rocks, burrows or wetlands as specific roost features for this species, so manage those features under the broader project fauna plan rather than assuming they are bat roosts.

• Use a staged, supervised removal method for any approved structure removal where bats could be present.
• Do not use generic nest boxes as a replacement for a cave or building roost unless a bat specialist has specified the design, placement and monitoring requirements.
• Prevent dust, sediment, vibration and debris from entering retained caves or structures.

During habitat disturbance: Response to animals and stop-work events

Only an authorised and appropriately trained person may handle or relocate a bat.

If a live bat is found, stop work in the immediate area, keep the animal shaded and undisturbed, and contact the nominated bat specialist or wildlife carer for instructions.

Relocate a healthy bat only under the approved plan, to nearby retained habitat that is suitable for the species and away from active machinery.

Send an injured, grounded or distressed bat to a veterinarian or authorised wildlife carer as soon as practicable, using safe containment and transport advice from that person.

• Stop work for an active roost, a bat trapped in the work area, an injured or dead bat, damage to a retained roost, failed exclusion fencing, or any unexpected cave or structure that may provide roosting habitat.
• Restart work only after the fauna spotter catcher, project ecologist or other authorised person records the decision and required controls.
• Record the date, time, location, condition of the animal, photographs where safe, people involved, action taken and final outcome.

After habitat disturbance: Post-clearance checks

Post-clearance work must confirm that controls have worked and that retained roosts and connected habitat have not been damaged. Reporting should distinguish confirmed use from unconfirmed potential habitat.

Inspect the cleared area, retained vegetation, cave entrances and retained man-made structures after each clearing stage.

Check for trapped, injured, dead or displaced bats and for damage to exclusion fencing, roost entrances or no-go areas.

Complete a final inspection after demolition, excavation or removal of a structure that was identified as potential roost habitat.

• Keep machinery and workers out of retained roost areas during post-clearance inspections.
• Escalate any bat finding or roost damage under the same stop-work and wildlife response process used during clearing.
• Photograph and map retained features and any changes caused by the works.

After habitat disturbance: Monitoring and reporting

Monitor retained caves, structures and connected vegetation where the project risk assessment identifies a reasonable chance of ongoing use.

Use the same detection method where possible so that results can be compared between pre-work and post-work surveys.

Report confirmed records, roost disturbance, injuries, relocations, deaths, control failures and corrective actions to the relevant regulator and state wildlife database where required.

• Set monitoring duration, visit frequency and success criteria in the fauna management plan because the supplied extracts do not provide a standard post-clearance schedule.
• Keep monitoring data, acoustic files, photographs, animal care records and regulator correspondence with the project completion records.
• Review controls after each monitoring event and correct lighting, access, fencing, dust, noise or vegetation issues that could affect retained habitat.

After habitat disturbance: Offsets and residual impacts

Assess residual impacts after avoidance, minimisation, staged clearing and rehabilitation measures have been applied.

Consider an offset or other approved conservation measure only where required by the applicable approval or state process.

Do not describe a roost as replaced unless the replacement feature has been designed, approved and monitored for this species.

• Document the area and type of habitat removed, the roost features affected, the habitat retained and the actions used to address residual impacts.
• Link any offset or conservation commitment to measurable actions, locations, timeframes and reporting responsibilities.

Rehabilitation actions: Restore habitat and roost access

Rehabilitation should restore insect-foraging habitat and protect or replace suitable roost access. The supplied documents do not name plant species or provide a nest-box design, so use locally appropriate species and bat-specialist designs rather than unsupported generic prescriptions.

Re-establish locally native vegetation that matches the retained dense forest, open woodland, plantation or garden habitat at the site.

Prioritise vegetation structure that reconnects retained habitat with caves and other confirmed or potential roosts.

Protect existing caves and suitable man-made roost structures from filling, sealing, lighting, vibration and uncontrolled access.

Do not remove a replacement roost structure after installation unless monitoring and specialist advice show that it is not required.

• Use locally sourced plant species selected by the rehabilitation ecologist for the site rather than relying on a species list that is not provided in the supplied documents.
• Design any artificial roost or modified structure with a bat specialist and obtain approval before installation.
• Do not assume that logs, rocks, hollows, burrows or wetlands provide replacement roost habitat for this species without site-specific evidence.

Rehabilitation actions: Manage threats during recovery

Control weeds so that planted and retained vegetation can develop into suitable forest, woodland or edge habitat.

Manage predators and domestic animals where they threaten bats around roost entrances or rehabilitation areas, using methods approved for the site.

Apply the project fire management plan so that fire does not damage retained caves, structures, young plantings or connecting vegetation.

Manage artificial lighting so that roost entrances and movement routes are not brightly illuminated.

• Inspect plantings, fencing, roost structures and erosion controls after significant weather and repair damage promptly.
• Keep construction materials, spoil and rubbish away from caves, structures and revegetation areas.
• Record weed, predator, fire, lighting and maintenance actions as part of the rehabilitation log.

Rehabilitation actions: Monitoring and success measures

Monitor survival and establishment of plantings, continuity of connecting vegetation, condition of retained roosts and use of any approved replacement roost.

Use bat detection or direct observation methods selected by a qualified bat ecologist to test whether the rehabilitated area is being used, rather than relying only on vegetation establishment.

Set measurable success criteria before rehabilitation begins, such as planting survival, cover development, intact roost access, functioning exclusion controls and confirmed bat use where use is an objective.

• Define the monitoring method, timing, effort, responsible person and duration in the rehabilitation plan because the supplied documents do not specify a standard rehabilitation monitoring program.
• Compare post-rehabilitation results with the pre-work survey and retain raw records for the project regulator and state wildlife database.
• Continue maintenance and monitoring until the agreed success criteria are met or the management plan is formally revised.

Sources

• Fawn Roundleaf Bat - Hipposideros cervinus, ecologyasia.com: https://www.ecologyasia.com/verts/bats/fawn-roundleaf_bat.htm
• Survey guidelines for Australia's threatened bats, Australian Government DCCEEW: https://www.agriculture.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/survey-guidelines-bats.pdf