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), with more possibly extinct and/or critically endangered.

Extinct bat species

Yinpterochiroptera

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)

Yangochiroptera

Phyllostomidae

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

Yinpterochiroptera

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)

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

Yangochiroptera

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