Ghost bat

Ghost bat in the Perth Zoo, Infrarotaufname

The Australian ghost bat ( Macroderma gigas ) is a bat species from the family of big-leaf lobes ( Megadermatidae ). It is the largest bat in the world ( not to be confused with the largest Fledertier, as some bats are much larger. )

Dissemination

These animals live in northern Australia, in Western Australia, the Northern Territory and the coastal regions of Queensland. Its distribution area is large but fragmented.

Description

Australian ghost bats reach a body length 10-14 cm, a wingspan of up to 60 centimeters and a weight of 130-220 grams. Its name comes from the coat color, this is gray at the top, while the face, ears, wings and the underside is white in color. The ears are very large and are connected at the base with a skin band, the tragus is well developed and shared. The nose leaf extends pointed upward. Like all big-leaf noses they have a well-developed tail wing membrane, but no tail.

Way of life

These bats inhabit both dry regions and rain forests in northeastern Australia. They sleep in caves, crevices or old mines, usually alone or in small groups. In the evening, they go in search for prey by hanging himself to a tree and lurking for prey animals. Their main food are mice, in addition they also hunt other rodents, small marsupials, other bats, birds, lizards and insects. Their prey is killed with a bite to the neck and then brought to an elevated point or back to the cave, the hunter, where it is consumed.

Reproduction

The mating season falls in the winter (July to August), the gestation period is about three months. At birth, which falls in the months of September to November, the females retreat into nurseries. The mostly single young animal is initially borne by the mother left later in the roost. From the seventh week of life, it begins to learn to fly and goes with the mother on hunting. With some six months they are weaned and mature in the second year. The highest known age of an animal in captivity was 16 years.

Threat

Several hundred years ago Australian ghost bats were located throughout Australia, then their distribution area began to retreat to the north, a trend that has increased since the arrival of Europeans. The reasons for this decline are not fully understood, it is believed, could that fundamental change in agriculture and the associated depletion of prey stand behind it.

Also on this level of danger is not easy to assess, mainly through the shy lifestyle. Estimates of the total population amounted to 6000-10000 animals that live of several distinct areas. The largest group lives in a mining system in Darwin and is threatened by a planned intensification of mining activities. Overall, the species is listed as endangered.