Bats or 'pekapeka', are special to New Zealand since they are the only endemic land mammal in the country. Short-tailed bats are belong to the family of Mystacinidae and are known to have three subspecies. Since the greater short-tailed bat (Mystacina robusta) is believed to have gone extinct, only lesser short-tailed bats (Mystacina tuberculata) and the related long-tailed bat (Chalinolobus tuberculatus) are known to have remained in New Zealand.
Northwestern parts of Nelson Lakes, Codfish Island and Fiordland offer home to the southern lesser short-tailed bat (Mystacina tuberculata tuberculata). They are relatively small weighing a maximum of 15 - 25 g. Their wingspan may only reach up to 8 cm.
The short-tailed bat may be identified by their iconic two-nostril snout, the free tail, and its pointy ears. It has little sub-claws just below its main talons needed for digging and climbing. Unlike other bat species in the world, this bat prefers to spend time on the ground searching for fruits, insects and pollen.