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Australian wildlife

What Is the Black-and-White Bat? Two Species to Know

The phrase “black and white bat” can refer to different species. Location and marking pattern help distinguish Australia’s Little Pied Bat from North America’s Spotted Bat.

By ThatPainter Team 3 min read
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“Black and white bat” does not identify one species. In Australia, it may describe the Little Pied Bat, whose white flank fur forms a V; in western North America, it may refer to the Spotted Bat, marked by three large white spots on its back. Location and the placement of the markings are the quickest ways to tell these possibilities apart.

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What bat is black and white?

Two well-documented possibilities are the Little Pied Bat (Chalinolobus picatus) in Australia and the Spotted Bat (Euderma maculatum) in western North America. They are different species, not regional versions of the same bat. A color description alone is not enough for identification: consider where the bat was seen and whether its white markings are on the flanks or arranged as spots on the back.

How to distinguish the Little Pied Bat and Spotted Bat

Feature Little Pied Bat Spotted Bat
Markings Glossy black back, grey belly, and white fur along the flanks that forms a V. Black back with three large white spots and a white underside.
Range Inland Queensland and New South Wales, extending slightly into South Australia and Victoria. NSW Government species profile. Arid western North America, from south-central British Columbia to northern Mexico, in a patchy distribution. British Columbia Ministry of Environment brochure.
Habitat and roosts described by sources Dry forests and woodlands, among other vegetation types; roosts include caves, rock outcrops, mines, tunnels, tree hollows, and buildings. Arid-region habitat; suitable cliff crevices serve as day roosts and nursery sites.
Conservation information and scope The NSW profile, last updated 1 December 2017, listed it as Vulnerable in NSW and not listed under Commonwealth status at that time. The BC brochure describes it as nationally Vulnerable in Canada and says the BC population size is unknown; it does not provide a current population estimate.

What does the Little Pied Bat look like?

The Little Pied Bat’s pattern is a contrast between its dark back, grey underside, and a V-shaped line of white fur along each side. The NSW Government profile describes it as “a distinctive black and white bat that weighs four to eight grams.” That weight is the figure given in the profile, last updated in 2017.

Its range includes inland parts of Queensland and New South Wales, with a smaller extension into South Australia and Victoria. The NSW profile lists habitats including dry open forest, open woodland, Mulga woodland, chenopod shrublands, cypress pine forest, mallee, and Bimbil box woodland. It feeds on moths and possibly other flying invertebrates. Although it tolerates heat and dry conditions, the profile says it needs open water nearby.

Reported roosts include caves, rock outcrops, disused mines and tunnels, tree hollows, and buildings. The NSW profile identifies habitat modification, cats, pesticides near foraging areas, inappropriate fire regimes, removal of hollow-bearing trees, and limited knowledge of breeding ecology among its threats.

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What does the Spotted Bat look like?

The Spotted Bat has three conspicuous white spots on a black back, plus a white underside. That pattern differs from the Little Pied Bat’s V-shaped white flank fur. Its range is broad but patchy across arid western North America, from south-central British Columbia to northern Mexico.

The British Columbia Ministry of Environment brochure describes the species as one of North America’s rarest bats and says only a few have been noted in each area of British Columbia. It states that the actual BC population is unknown. Suitable cliff crevices are used as day roosts and nursery sites; the brochure also identifies development or recreation near cliffs as concerns and discusses possible limits such as roost availability, foraging terrain, food, and climate. These are the brochure’s descriptions, not a current population count.

Can a photo or sighting identify the bat?

A clear view of the marking pattern and a reliable location can narrow the possibilities, but a brief or distant sighting may not show enough detail for a confident species identification. The two species above are source-supported matches for the phrase, not an exhaustive list of every bat that could appear black and white. If the location is outside their ranges, or the markings do not fit either pattern, do not assign one of these names based on color alone.

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How should conservation status be interpreted?

Status labels apply within a defined jurisdiction and can change over time. The NSW Government profile’s Little Pied Bat entries—Vulnerable in NSW and not listed under Commonwealth status—reflect its 1 December 2017 update, rather than a verified statement of current law. For the Spotted Bat, the BC brochure calls it nationally Vulnerable in Canada and reports that the population in British Columbia is unknown. Check the relevant government authority for current legal status where that matters.

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