Ghost Bats
With their leathery wings, mouse like bodies and nocturnal
habits, it's no wonder so many people think Bats are spooky
creatures of the night, just waiting to turn into a vampire! By the
light of day they are as beautiful as any other animal -
Australia's 75 species of bat have some surprises in store, but
none of them are frightening!
Bats are the only type of mammal that flies, which is how they
found their way to Australia. Bats are split into two groups,
Megabats and Microbats. Megabats tend to be larger, feed on fruit
and nectar, and include the Fruit bats you can often see in and
around Sydney. Microbats love to gobble insects and find their way
at night with the help of "echolocation" which means they emit
high-pitched sounds and listen for the echoes back with their
sensitive ears.
The amazing Ghost Bat is a microbat - and it's well-named with
its white-furred belly giving it a ghostly appearance as it glides
on nearly see-through wings.
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