Widespread and common, and found throughout eastern and southern Australia, this attractive little bat has soft, dense fur, showing a uniform chocolate brown colour both above - a little paler below.

Weighing in at just 8 - 12 grams as adults, this animal has a combined head - body length of 50 - 60 mm, with a tail of 40 - 50 mm.

Like most microbats they are both nocturnal and insectivorous - fast flying, and highly maneuverable, feeding mainly on small moths.

These bats are essentially 'tree-dwellers', roosting in the hollows in old trees, but do roost in the caves on the Nullubor region of South Australia. Chocolate Wattled Bats roost in colonies numbering from 20, up to a several hundred individuals. In southern regions these bats hibernate during the winter.

Females give birth to 1 - 2 young - 'pups' in late spring/early summer. Young becoming independent by January/February.

The main threat to these animals is loss of hollows from land clearance, and like all insectivorous bats, they are highly susceptible to pesticides on their food source.

These bats like many species, will readily take to artificial roost boxes. For plans and information on building bat boxes click here