The New Caledonian long-eared bat, species Nyctophilus nebulosus, is a vespertilionid bat found in New Caledonia. They are only recorded at Mount Koghis, near Nouméa, and the population is decreasing.
A species of Vespertilionidae, allied to the long-eared genus Nyctophilus, only observed at the south-western side of a mountain, Mt. Koghis, in Nouméa.
The fur of the species is dark brown, a reddish colour in the male and chocolate brown in the female. The ventral side is slightly lighter than the back. Skin colour is grey-brown and dark at the snout, ears and at the membranes of the wing.
The species has some resemblance to Nyctophilus gouldi, but lacks the distinctly lighter contrast of the fur on the ventral side; Nyctophilus nebulosus is also darker in colour at the back. The eastern species N. gouldi is around the same size except for the evidently larger ears. Several characteristics place this species as an intermediate in a range of measurements for Nyctophilus bifax and N. gouldi, although experimental comparison of measurement data provides support for separation as species.
The specimens obtained at Mt. Koghis were active in a cleared area of tall rainforest at dusk. The mountain is surrounded by grassland and Maquis shrubland.Classified as critically endangered at the IUCN redlist, the population is noted as in decline. Threats include removal of habitat for a variety of developments, commercial, residential and recreational, and through logging or fire management practices.Due to its imperilled status, it is identified by the Alliance for Zero Extinction as a species in danger of imminent extinction.
