This spectacular beast must be the one of the Pilbara’s most intriguing creatures. Ghost Bats spend their days hanging from the roof of deep caves and adits, taking flight at night when they stretch their massive wing span of up to 500 mm. Their iniquitous look is matched only by their brutal feeding habits that include prey such as birds, frogs, lizards and other bats from their own cave. This brilliant white assassin of the night uses its large eyes and ears to locate prey. 

Environmental consultants often miss Ghost Bats during surveys due to their roosting behaviour deep within caves often inaccessible to humans. They are also often missed during Anabat recording as they do not make their echolocation call continuously. The best way to confirm this species presence is to locate scat piles near the entrance of the cave or to wait a distance from the cave at sunset and see if they emerge. Ghost Bats will generally leave the cave just after sunset or within the hour that follows.

Photo: Carly Bishop

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