List of recently extinct bats

This is a list of bat species that have become extinct since 1500. As of 2025 this includes 12 species and subspecies (about 0.7% of all bats) ^[1] , with more possibly extinct and/or critically endangered.

Conservation statuses of bats as of 2020 according to the IUCN (1,314 species in total) ^[1]

1. Critically endangered (1.6%)
2. Endangered (6.3%)
3. Vulnerable (8.3%)
4. Near-threatened (6.7%)
5. Least concern (58%)
6. Data deficient (18.4%)
7. Extinct (0.7%)

Extinct bat species

Pteropodidae

Pteropodinae

• Acerodon
  • Panay golden-crowned flying fox, Acerodon jubatus lucifer (Philippines, 1890s)
• Pteropus
  • Small Samoan flying fox, Pteropus allenorum (Samoa, 1850s)
  • Dusky flying fox, Pteropus brunneus (Percy Island, Australia, 1874)
  • Large Samoan flying fox, Pteropus coxi (Samoa, 1839-1841)
  • Large Palau flying fox, Pteropus pilosus (Palau, 1874)
  • Small Mauritian flying fox, Pteropus subniger (Mauritius, 1864-1873?)
  • Guam flying fox, Pteropus tokudae (Guam, 1968)

Phyllostomidae

Small Mauritian flying fox

Desmodontinae

• Desmodus
  • Giant vampire bat, Desmodus draculae (Central and South America, 1650)

Glossophaginae

• Monophyllus
  • Puerto Rican long-nosed bat, Monophyllus plethodon frater (Puerto Rico, 1850-1900?)

Stenodermatinae

• Artibeus
  • Anthony's fruit-eating bat, Artibeus anthonyi (Cuba, Late Quaternary)

Vespertilionidae

Vespertilioninae

• Pipistrellus
  • Christmas Island pipistrelle, Pipistrellus murrayi (Christmas Island, Australia, 2009)
  • Sturdee's pipistrelle, Pipistrellus sturdeei (Japan, 1889)

Possibly extinct bat species

Pteropodidae

Nyctimeninae

• Nyctimene
  • Nendo tube-nosed fruit bat, Nyctimene santacrucis (Solomon Islands, early 20th century?)

Pteropodinae

• Pteralopex
  • Montane monkey-faced bat, Pteralopex pulchra (Solomon Islands, 1990s)

Aru flying fox skull

• Pteropus
  • Aru flying fox, Pteropus aruensis (Aru Islands, Indonesia, 19th century)
  • Okinawa flying fox, Pteropus loochoensis (Japan, Late Quaternary)

Mystacinidae

• Mystacina
  • New Zealand greater short-tailed bat, Mystacina robusta (New Zealand, 1965)

Vespertilionidae

Murininae

• Murina
  • Gloomy tube-nosed bat, Murina tenebrosa (Japan, 1962)

Myotinae

• Myotis
  • Insular myotis, Myotis insularum (Samoa, 1860s?)

Vespertilioninae

• Nyctophilus
  • Lord Howe long-eared bat, Nyctophilus howensis (Lord Howe Island, Australia, 1972)
• Scotophilus
  • Lesser yellow bat, Scotophilus borbonicus (Madagascar and Reunion, late 19th century)

References

1. "Taxonomy: Chiroptera". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved 9 February 2025.