Australia's ugly – but crucial – mammals ignored by scientists

A group of Australian native animals known as Little Red Flying Foxes. Photos: Reuters

Pushed out of the limelight by cuddly koalas and kangaroos, Australia's less glamorous native bats and rodents have failed to catch the eyes of scientific researchers, a new study shows.

Just 11% of scientific studies on Australian wildlife since 1901 have looked at native bats and rodents, although they make up 45% of all species, says the study published in the Mammal Review Journal.