Bats, or 'pekapeka' in Maori, are special to New Zealand since they are the only native mainland mammals in the country. Short-tailed bats are assigned 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) are known to have remained until today.
Central parts of the North Island offer home to the one of two northern short-tailed bat species (Mystacina tuberculata rhyacobi). They are relatively small weighing a maximum of 15 to 25 g, with a wingspan that only reaches 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 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.