Ghost Bat

Macroderma gigas is Australia's only carnivorous bat and the largest of the country's microbat species, with a wingspan reaching up to 60 centimetres. It possesses large ears joined at the base, a distinctive nose-leaf used for echolocation, and pale grey to near-white fur. Unlike most insectivorous bats, it hunts a broad range of prey, including large insects, small mammals, birds, reptiles, and frogs, which it locates through a combination of echolocation and passive listening before dropping onto them from a perch.

As a predator, it contributes to regulating populations of small vertebrates and invertebrates within its range.

The species occurs across northern Australia, with populations in the Kimberley, Top End, Queensland, and formerly northern New South Wales, and it has also been recorded in Papua New Guinea. It roosts in caves, rocky outcrops, abandoned mines, and other subterranean shelters, foraging in adjacent savanna, rocky terrain, and arid habitats.

Threats include disturbance and destruction of roost sites from mining and quarrying activity, direct persecution through hunting and trapping, and competition or predation pressures linked to problematic native species. Extreme weather events, including storms and flooding, can degrade roosting habitat, while unspecified pollution sources add further pressure. These factors combine to reduce roost availability and colony stability.

Conservation measures include roost site protection and monitoring, particularly at known maternity and overwintering caves, along with habitat management around mining developments to limit disturbance. Research into population distribution and roost fidelity continues to inform management decisions.

The population is currently assessed as decreasing, and the species is classified as Vulnerable. Its reliance on a limited number of specific roost sites makes it particularly sensitive to localized disturbance, and continued monitoring will be necessary to track trends accurately.