Macroderma gigas
| Ghost bat | |
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| Ghost bat at Perth Zoo | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Chiroptera |
| Family: | Megadermatidae |
| Genus: |
Macroderma Miller, 1906 |
| Species: | M. gigas |
| Binomial name | |
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Macroderma gigas (Dobson, 1887) |
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| Ghost bat range | |
The ghost bat (Macroderma gigas), also known as the false vampire bat, is a bat native to Australia. The bat is named for the extremely thin membrane of its wings that makes it appear ghostly at night. Ghost bats have grey fur on their backs and pale grey or white fur on their undersides. They have long, narrow wings, but no tail, averaging 11 centimetres (4.3 in) in length. Females are generally smaller than males. Ghost bats have large ears for long distance hearing, and very sharp teeth so they can attack prey.
The ghost bat is endemic to the Northern Pilbara and Kimberley in Western Australia, the top end of the Northern Territory, and scattered throughout Queensland. Analysis of fossil remains shows that distribution patterns within Australia changed in waves of both expansion and contraction, and the probable cause was climate change. Populations of the ghost bat have declined from 450 in the 1960s to 150 in the 1980s. The ghost bat gets its common name from its distinct colouring: the predominant shade of fur is a whitish pale grey. Little is known of the genetics of the ghost bat.
The name Macroderma gigas comes from the Greek words macros (large) and derma (skin), due to the size of their wings. Giga (giant) is added because this bat is the largest species in the family.
Studies of brain structures indicate that Macroderma gigas is an intermediate and divergent species of the insectivorous mircochiropterans and the carnivorous species from South America.
The ghost bat has an average body length of 100–140 millimetres (3.9–5.5 in) and mass of 130–170 grams (4.6–6.0 oz), making it one of the largest microchiropterans. With ears that consist of nearly half the length of the face, large eyes, and strong curved claws; the lower jaw juts out slightly farther than the upper and houses 26 large, robust teeth. The wing span is approximately 0.6 metres (2 ft 0 in). The overall size of the females is smaller than that of males, although certain body parts, including fingers and tibia, are larger in the female.
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Wikipedia