Myotis adversus (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae): Australia's fish-eating bat

Abstract

[Extract] The distribution of the Large-footed Myotis, M. adversus, within Australia is closely tied to water (McKean and Hall 1965, Seebeck and Hamilton-Smith 1967). Some colonies have been located above or within a few metres of water. The species has been seen feeding over water and Dwyer (1970a) suggested that it might sometimes forage directly from the surface. He described behaviour in which bats raked their laterally compressed and recurved claws across the water surface. Thompson and Fenton (1982) recorded the echolocation calls of M. adversus as it searched for prey that were located both above and on the water surface.