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IUCN 2008: T136769A4337617
Pipistrellus murrayi, Christmas Island Pipistrelle
Assessment by: Lumsden, L., Racey, P.A. & Hutson, A.M.
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Citation: Lumsden, L., Racey, P.A. & Hutson, A.M. 2010. Pipistrellus murrayi. The IUCN Red List of
Threatened Species 2010: e.T136769A4337617. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.20102.RLTS.T136769A4337617.en
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THE IUCN RED LIST OF THREATENED SPECIES™
Taxonomy
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Animalia
Chordata
Mammalia
Chiroptera
Vespertilionidae
Taxon Name: Pipistrellus murrayi Andrews, 1900
Synonym(s):
• Pipistrellus tenuis subspecies murrayi
Common Name(s):
• English:
Christmas Island Pipistrelle
Taxonomic Notes:
Although there are differing opinions regarding the taxonomic status of the Christmas Island population,
Koopman (1973, 1993) suggested P. murrayi was conspecific with P. tenuis without presentation of any
data. Kitchener et al. (1986) considered P. murrayi distinct, though with little information given, but
more information was given in a letter to Chris Tidemann. Hill and Harrison (1987) listed P. murrayi as a
separate species in a revision of all Vespertilioninae based on baculum. We follow the IUCN SSC
Chiroptera Specialist Group (P. Racey pers. comm. 2008) and Tidemann and Lumsden (2008) in
recognizing P. murrayi as distinct from P. tenuis pending additional studies into the systematic status of
these taxa.
Assessment Information
Red List Category &
Criteria:
Critically Endangered (Possibly Extinct) A2abce; B1ab(iv,v)+2ab(iv,v);
C1+2a(i,ii); D ver 3.1
Year Published:
2010
Date Assessed:
October 4, 2009
Justification:
This species is listed as Critically Endangered and tagged as possibly extinct. There has been extensive
survey work for, and monitoring of, this species in recent years documenting a dramatic population
decline in excess of 90% in three generations based on an index of relative abundance from bat
detectors (and subsequently by direct observation of the remaining individuals at a single roost). As
recently as January 2009, there were thought to be as few as 20 remaining individuals. By August 2009,
there appears to have been only one remaining individual, which was consistently recorded in its
foraging and roosting areas. This individual went missing on 27 August 2009 and no individuals have
since been located. There are serious concerns that Pipistrellus murrayi is now extinct; however,
because the last known record for the species was recent there is still a possibility of its continued
existence. Should there be any remaining individuals, these are almost certain to occupy a single
location.
Date last seen: 2009
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Pipistrellus murrayi – published in 2010.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-2.RLTS.T136769A4337617.en
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Previously Published Red List Assessments
2008 – Critically Endangered (CR)
Geographic Range
Range Description:
This species is endemic to Christmas Island (Australia), approximately 135 km² in area, located in the
eastern Indian Ocean. Although the bat was once widespread on the island, the last known individuals
were recorded only in the western portion with no records from the rest of the island for a number of
years.
Country Occurrence:
Possibly extinct: Christmas Island
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Pipistrellus murrayi – published in 2010.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-2.RLTS.T136769A4337617.en
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Distribution Map
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Pipistrellus murrayi – published in 2010.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-2.RLTS.T136769A4337617.en
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Population
Because P. murrayi is (or was) the only microbat on Christmas Island, ultrasonic bat detectors are an
effective technique for documenting its status, as it is obvious if the species is present or not, since it is
readily recorded and can not be confused with, or obscured by, other species. Intensive detector
sampling over the last decade (almost continuous since 2004) has provided unusually detailed
documentation of its decline, resulting in it being one of the most intensely monitored bat species on
the planet. This species was widespread and common until the mid 1980s (Tidemann 1985). By 1994
its range had contracted away from the north-east section (which is where the only town is located),
and it had a patchy distribution and declining abundance (Lumsden and Cherry 1997). Between 1994
and 1998 there was a further westward range contraction and an apparent mean reduction of 33% in
relative abundance, although this was not statistically significant (Lumsden et al. 1999; Schulz and
Lumsden 2004). Between 1998 and 2004 there was a decline of between 55 and 65% in relative
abundance and a continued westward contraction of range in the order of 25 to 50% (James 2005). This
decline has continued and the species was considered to be confined to the far west of the island, no
longer occurring across more than 90% of its former range (James and Retallick 2007; Lumsden et al.
2007). Long-term monitoring using bat detectors indicates this species underwent a 90% decline in
abundance between 1994 and 2006 (James and Retallick 2007, Lumsden et al. 2007). Since 2006 this
decline continued at an alarming rate with the species disappearing from many of the few remaining
sites where it was present in 2006 (Parks Australia North Christmas Island unpublished data) In
December 2008, P. murrayi was thought to be restricted to a single foraging area and a single roost site
(Lumsden and Schulz 2009). Although the roost site had previously contained as many as 50 individuals,
by January 2009 there were only four adults present. The behaviour of these individuals suggested that
they were lactating females with four dependent young in the roost. The total population was then
estimated to be less than 20 individuals in order to account for the possibility of small undetected
colonies (Lumsden and Schulz 2009). Lumsden and Schulz (2009) stated that the January findings
indicated that "without urgent intervention there is an extremely high risk that this species will go
extinct in the near future. While it can not be precisely predicted when this would occur if there was no
intervention, it is highly likely that it will be within the next 6 months, i.e. by June 2009" (pg. 7).
Unfortunately, this predicted decline of the species appears to have been prescient. After the January
findings, Dr. Lumsden urgently sought approval to capture the remaining individuals for a captive
breeding program, the details of which had been outlined in a feasibility report (Lumsden and Schulz
2009). Rather than acting immediately the Australian government established an Expert Working Group,
and waited for its report in July 2009 (Beeton et al. 2009) before approving this intervention. In August
2009 a team led by Lumsden of eight bat experts and captive breeding specialists from Zoos Victoria
attempted to take the remaining individuals into captivity. During the four weeks of intensive sampling,
which used 30 bat detectors, only one individual could be found, and it evaded all attempts to catch it.
On 27 August this individual also disappeared, and all survey work since that night has failed to detect
the species. While it is possible that this individual moved to a new area, shifting both its roosting and
foraging areas on the same night, this is considered unlikely as both areas had been continually used for
at least the last ten years by members of this colony (L. Lumsden pers. comm.). It is quite possible that
this is one of the few times that an extinction of species in the wild can be marked to the day.
Current Population Trend: Decreasing
Habitat and Ecology (see Appendix for additional information)
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Pipistrellus murrayi – published in 2010.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-2.RLTS.T136769A4337617.en
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This species roosts under bark, in dead foliage, and in tree hollows. Maternity roosts were discovered in
late 2005 under shedding bark of dead forest trees (Tristiropsis acutangula and Inocarpus fagifer) and in
a hole in a palm (Arenga listeri), many of which were heavily decayed and collapsed soon after
(Lumsden et al. 2007). Females form colonies of up to approximately 50 individuals, while males often
roost solitarily (Lumsden et al. 1999, 2007). Generation length of this species is likely to be 4-5 years (L.
Lumsden, D.J. James pers. comm.). This species roosts in mature, tropical, evergreen, closed canopy
rainforests and mature, tropical, semi-deciduous rainforests (Lumsden et al. 1999; James and Retallick
2007; Lumsden et al. 2007). It feeds in and over these forests and also along tracks, and in and over
secondary forests and thickets of woody weeds (Lumsden et al. 1999, James and Retallick 2007,
Lumsden et al. 2007). It feeds on a range of small flying invertebrates, predominantly moths, beetles,
and flying ants (Lumsden and Schulz 2009).
Systems: Terrestrial
Threats
The reasons for the decline of this species remain unclear. While habitat loss may have caused some
declines in the past, 75% of the island is covered by primary or secondary rainforest, with little change
to the habitat over the last 20 years. The major threats to the species may include predation or
disturbance to bats within their roosts from introduced species, e.g. Common Wolf Snake Lycodon
aulicus capucinus, Feral Cat Felis catus, Black Rat Rattus rattus and Giant Centipede Scolapendra
morsitans (Lumsden et al. 2007). Although not considered the primary cause of decline, the recent
explosion of Yellow Crazy Ants Anoplolepis gracilipes is likely to have exacerbated the situation. It is also
possible that some form of disease may be contributing to the decline, however, individuals appear in
good health, with the exception of low white blood cell counts although the significance of these
findings is unclear (Lumsden et al. 2007). Even the last known individual appeared to behave normally
and looked healthy before it vanished (L. Lumsden pers. comm.).
Conservation Actions (see Appendix for additional information)
There are serious concerns that P. murrayi is now extinct. Despite the extensive coverage of detector
surveys in recent years, there is still a slight possibility that a small colony remains undetected. Should a
small population be discovered, these individuals should be captured immediately in order to start a
captive breeding program. Such a program has been shown to be the best approach for the recovery of
the species once it reached critically low levels and with the cause of the decline unknown (Lumsden
and Schulz 2009) This species is listed as Critically Endangered under Australia's Environmental
Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. The last known population of the species roosted within a
protected area, Christmas Island National Park and foraged just outside the park in leasehold land. A
range of management actions from the Recovery Plan (Schulz and Lumsden 2004) had been
implemented, including installing protective barriers around the base of the few known remaining roost
trees, and establishing bat boxes in an attempt to provide additional roost sites. Christmas Island
National Park staff are continuing the detector surveys in the hope of finding any remaining individuals.
It has been recommended that this work continue for six months after the last record of the species
(Beeton et al. 2009)
Credits
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Pipistrellus murrayi – published in 2010.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-2.RLTS.T136769A4337617.en
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Assessor(s):
Lumsden, L., Racey, P.A. & Hutson, A.M.
Reviewer(s):
Cox, N. (Global Mammal Assessment Team), Racey, P.A. & Hutson, A.M.
(Chiroptera Red List Authority)
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Pipistrellus murrayi – published in 2010.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-2.RLTS.T136769A4337617.en
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Bibliography
Beeton, B., Burbidge, A., Grigg, G., How, R., McKenzie, N., and Woinarski, J. 2009. Revised Interim Report
Christmas Island Expert Working Group to Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts.
Hill, J. E. and Harrison, D. L. 1987. The baculum in the Vespertilioninae (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae)
with a systematic review, a synopsis of Pipistrellus and Eptesicus, and the descriptions of a new genus
and subgenus. Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History) Zoology 52(7): 225-305.
IUCN. 2010. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (ver. 2010.2). Available at: http://www.iucnredlist.org.
(Accessed: 29 June 2010).
James, D. J. 2005. Christmas Island Pipistrelle (Pipistrellus murrayi): An Interim Assessment of
Conservation Status and Threats. Biodiversity Monitoring Programme: Parks Australia North, Christmas
Island. Australian Government: Department of the Environment and Heritage.
James, D. J. and Retallick, K. 2007. Research into the conservation status and threats of the Christmas
Island Pipistrelle Pipistrellus murrayi, 2004-2006. Biodiversity Monitoring Programme: Parks Australia
North Christmas Island. Department of Finance & Administration and Department of the Environment
and Water Resources, Canberra, Australia.
Kitchener, D. J., Caputi, N. and Jones, B. 1986. Revision of the Australo-Papuan Pipistrellus and
Falsistrellus (Microchiroptera: Vespertilionidae). Records Western Australian Museum 12: 435-495.
Koopman, K. F. 1973. Systematics of Indo-Australian pipistrelles. Periodicum Biologorum 75: 113-116.
Koopman, K. F. 1993. Order Chiroptera. In: D. E. Wilson and D. M. Reeder (eds), Mammal species of the
world: a taxonomic and geographic reference, pp. 137–241. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington,
D. C., USA.
Lumsden, L., and Schulz, M. 2009. Captive breeding and future in-situ management of the Christmas
Island Pipistrelle Pipistrellus murrayi. A report to the Director of National Parks. Arthur Rylah Institute,
Department of Sustainability and Environment, Heidelberg, Victoria.
Lumsden, L. F. and Cherry, K. 1994. Report on a preliminary investigation of the Christmas Island
Pipistrelle, Pipistrellus murrayi in June-July 1994. Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research,
Parks Australia North, Christmas Island.
Lumsden, L. F., Silins, J. and Schulz, M. 1999. Population Dynamics and Ecology of the Christmas Island
Pipistrelle, Pipistrellus murrayi on Christmas Island. Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research,
Parks Australia North, Christmas Island.
Lumsden, L., Schulz, M., Ashton, R. and Middleton, D. 2007. Investigation of threats to the Christmas
Island Pipistrelle. A report to the Department of the Environment and Water Resources. Arthur Rylah
Institute for Environmental Research, Department of Sustainability and Environment, Heidelberg,
Victoria, Australia.
Schulz, M. and Lumsden, L. F. 2004. National Recovery Plan for the Christmas Island Pipistrelle
Pipistrellus murrayi. Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra.
Tidemann, C. 1985. A Study of the Status, Habitat Requirements and Management of the Two Species of
Bat on Christmas Island (Indian Ocean). Canberra, Australia.
Tidemann, C. R. and Lumsden, L. F. 2008. Christmas Island Pipistrelle. Pipistrellus murrayi. Reed New
Holland, Sydney, Australia.
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Pipistrellus murrayi – published in 2010.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-2.RLTS.T136769A4337617.en
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Citation
Lumsden, L., Racey, P.A. & Hutson, A.M. 2010. Pipistrellus murrayi. The IUCN Red List of Threatened
Species 2010: e.T136769A4337617. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.20102.RLTS.T136769A4337617.en
Disclaimer
To make use of this information, please check the Terms of Use.
External Resources
For Images and External Links to Additional Information, please see the Red List website.
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Pipistrellus murrayi – published in 2010.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-2.RLTS.T136769A4337617.en
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Appendix
Habitats
(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)
Habitat
Season
Suitability
Major
Importance?
1. Forest -> 1.6. Forest - Subtropical/Tropical Moist Lowland
-
Suitable
-
Conservation Actions in Place
(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)
Conservation Actions in Place
In-Place Land/Water Protection and Management
Occur in at least one PA: Yes
Conservation Actions Needed
(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)
Conservation Actions Needed
1. Land/water protection -> 1.1. Site/area protection
2. Land/water management -> 2.1. Site/area management
3. Species management -> 3.4. Ex-situ conservation -> 3.4.1. Captive breeding/artificial propagation
4. Education & awareness -> 4.3. Awareness & communications
5. Law & policy -> 5.4. Compliance and enforcement -> 5.4.2. National level
Research Needed
(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)
Research Needed
1. Research -> 1.1. Taxonomy
1. Research -> 1.2. Population size, distribution & trends
1. Research -> 1.5. Threats
3. Monitoring -> 3.1. Population trends
Additional Data Fields
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Pipistrellus murrayi – published in 2010.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-2.RLTS.T136769A4337617.en
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Distribution
Estimated extent of occurrence (EOO) (km²): 10
Number of Locations: 1
Population
Population severely fragmented: No
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Pipistrellus murrayi – published in 2010.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-2.RLTS.T136769A4337617.en
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The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ is produced and managed by the IUCN Global Species
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International; Microsoft; NatureServe; Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Sapienza University of Rome; Texas
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THE IUCN RED LIST OF THREATENED SPECIES™