Large Bent-wing Bat
Click to enlarge image
© Australian Museum
Fast Facts
-
Classification
- Genus
- Miniopterus
- Species
- schreibersii
- Family
- Vespertilionidae
- Order
- Chiroptera
- Subclass
- Eutheria
- Subphylum
- Vertebrata
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Kingdom
- Animalia
Introduction
In the nursery caves of the Bent-wing Bat there may be up to 3000 babies in a square metre of ceiling.
Habitat
Large Bent-wing Bats roost in caves, old mines, stormwater tunnels and occasionally in buildings. They can roost together in large numbers.
Distribution
Seasonality
In south-eastern Australia Large Bent-wing Bats roost in cold caves during winter and hibernate.
Feeding and diet
Large Bent-wing Bats feed mainly on moths and other flying insects. They fly quickly above tree tops in valleys, making fast dives to catch prey.
Life history cycle
Female Bent-wing Bats roost together in warm, humid maternity caves when babies are born in summer. There are very few of these nursery caves
Conservation status
Bent-wing Bats are vulnerable to disturbance from human visitors to cave roosts, destruction of caves by mining, and loss of feeding habitat by clearing and land degradation from agriculture. Thought to have declined in southern Australia during the past 30 years.
Predators
Eaten by owls, feral cats, pythons and sometimes by foxes.
