Ghost bats are the largest species of micro-bat in Australia and spend their nights hunting for small vertebrates. They are the only Australian bats to feed on these animals.

Their day is spent in a roost which is located in a cave or mine shaft. By night they use their wings to fly out in to adjacent forest or woodland where they can hunt using echolocation.

These bats form colonies with up to 100 members. Outside of the breeding season these split in to individual groups for the males and females.

Read on to learn more about the amazing mammals.

Appearance

The name ghost bat comes from the grey fur on the back and the pale grey or white on the underside.

On either side of the body is a long, narrow wing.

Atop the head are a pair of extremely large ears. These large ears aid them in hearing prey at long distances. On the nose is a protruding appendage of skin known as the leaf.

Despite being the largest species of microbat in Australia the ghost bat only reaches lengths of between 10 and 12cm (4 and 4.75in) long. An average weight for this species is between 75 and 150g (2.6-5oz). Females tend to be smaller than males. Their wingspan covers up to 60cm (23.6in) across.

Diet

The ghost bat is a carnivore. Their diet includes a range of invertebrates and small vertebrates such as reptiles, birds and small mammals. They have been known to feed on smaller bats.

They will consume the whole animal including bones, teeth, fur and feathers.

When hunting they will drop on to prey from above and wrap the flight membrane around it. Prey is mainly caught on the ground and then carried up to a perch where they can finish consuming it.

The location of food can also be determined using echolocation. They emit a high-pitched sound and then wait to hear the echo which comes back.

Ghosts bats are the only Australian bats to feed on vertebrate prey with the rest eating solely invertebrates.