#macroderma

[all-mammal-creechur]

Ghost Bat Macroderma gigas

Found in northern Australia. It is the only Australian bat that preys on large vertebrates – birds, reptiles and other mammals – which they detect using acute sight and hearing, combined with echolocation, while waiting in ambush at a perch. Prey may be taken at or to the ground, where it is enveloped with the wings and killed with bites to the neck. Their sharp teeth and strong jaws are able to subdue animals as large as the bar-shouldered dove.

img source

[raw-wild]

Ghost Bat | Lachlan Hall

[snototter]

A ghost bat (Macroderma gigas) in Katherine, Northern Territory, Australia

by Tim Bawden

[nature-and-biodiversity-blog]

Ghost Bat Macroderma gigas

[blank-reality]

Ghost Bat (Macroderma Gigas)

[libutron]

Ghost Bat - Macroderma gigas

The Ghost Bat belongs to the species Macroderma gigas (Chiroptera - Megadermatidae), and gains its rather spooky name from its unusually pale coloration. 

As in other members of the Megadermatidae, the eyes are relatively large, and the impressively long ears are joined at the base, with a forked tragus (a small pointed eminence of the external ear) that partly covers the ear opening, while a long, erect nose leaf projects above the snout.

This species, classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, is native to Australia and is also known as Australian false vampire bat, Australian ghost bat, Australian giant false vampire bat.

Reference: [1] - [2]

Photo credit: ©Bruce Thomson | Locality: Mt. Isa, Queensland, Australia (2006)