Updated on
Initiative
Protecting Habitats
Last night’s Science in the Pub event (20/11/2024) was fantastic, bringing locals and scientists together to celebrate a new discovery: a new species of micro-bat, the Liverpool Creek Rhinolophus (LCR)!
Thanks to a fascinating presentation by Jon Luly, we learned how this elusive bat was discovered entirely through audio recordings near Silkwood in 2022. Researchers, using specialised acoustic equipment, first detected unique echolocation calls that didn’t match any known species. After meticulous analysis, they realised these calls came from a brand-new species of horseshoe bat. The scientific team, working in collaboration with Traditional Owners, local landholders, and Cassowary Coast Regional Council, tentatively named this bat the Liverpool Creek Rhinolophus (LCR).
Remarkably, no one has actually seen this bat yet!
Research teams from James Cook University, Balance Environmental, Central Queensland University, and North Queensland Wildlife Care have mapped its habitat between Innisfail and Tully, showing that this elusive bat thrives even in altered landscapes. Research into this mysterious new resident is ongoing, reminding us of the incredible biodiversity right here in our own backyard!