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What the sources say

Ghost BatMacroderma gigas

Every figure, record and mechanism on the Ghost Bat profile was written from a source, and this is the working table behind it: 52 claims checked word for word against these sources. The left column is what the page says. The right column is the source's own words, copied, not paraphrased; a ... marks a cut and[brackets] an insertion. Open any source and check it yourself.

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Source
01

Threatened Species Scientific Committee, Australian Government Department of the Environment 2016

Macroderma gigas (ghost bat) Conservation Advice. Threatened Species Scientific Committee, Australian Government Department of the Environment, 2016.

The page saysAustralia's only carnivorous bat
The source saysIt is Australia's only carnivorous bat.
The page saysa night hunter
The source saysTidemann et al. (1985) found that foraging areas were centred, on average, 1.9 km from the daytime roost. The mean size of foraging areas was 61 ha and tagged bats generally returned to the same areas each night.Note: Foraging areas were used each night; they roost by day.
The page saysDeep caves, rock crevices and old mine tunnels across northern Australia, from the Pilbara and Kimberley to the Northern Territory and Queensland
The source saysThe species’ current range is discontinuous, with geographically disjunct colonies occurring in the Pilbara (Armstrong & Anstee 2000; McKenzie & Bullen 2009), Kimberley (including several islands; McKenzie & Bullen 2012), northern Northern Territory (including Groote Eylandt), the Gulf of Carpentaria (Australian Wildlife Conservancy 2010), coastal and near coastal eastern Queensland from Cape York to near Rockhampton (Richards et al., 2008), and western Queensland (including Riversleigh and Cammoweal districts; Bullen pers. comm., 2015).Note: roost description ('caves, rock crevices ... mine adits') from the same source: 'Roost sites include caves, rock crevices and disused mine adits.'
The page saysFrogs, reptiles, birds, large insects, small mammals, and other bats
The source saysThey are carnivores, with a broad diet comprising small mammals including other bats, birds, reptiles, frogs and large insects
The page saysAustralia's Only Meat-Eating Bat
The source saysIt is Australia's only carnivorous bat.Note: heading; ghost bat is also stated to be 'the largest microchiropteran bat in Australia' in the same source.
The page saysis Australia's only carnivorous bat, and the largest microbat in Australia
The source saysThe ghost bat is the largest microchiropteran bat in Australia ... It is Australia's only carnivorous bat.
The page saysa head and body length of 10 to 13 centimetres, a forearm length of 10 to 11 centimetres
The source saysThe ghost bat is the largest microchiropteran bat in Australia, with a head and body length of 10−13 cm and a forearm length of 10−11 cm.
The page saysa wingspan of 60 centimetres, and weighs up to 150 grams
The source saysGhost bats are the largest microchiropteran bat in Australia and the second largest in the world, weighing up to 150 g and having a wingspan of 60 cm.
The page saysroost in caves, rock crevices and disused mine adits
The source saysRoost sites include caves, rock crevices and disused mine adits.
The page saysscattered colonies from the Pilbara and Kimberley in Western Australia through the Northern Territory's Top End to eastern and western Queensland
The source saysThe species’ current range is discontinuous, with geographically disjunct colonies occurring in the Pilbara (Armstrong & Anstee 2000; McKenzie & Bullen 2009), Kimberley (including several islands; McKenzie & Bullen 2012), northern Northern Territory (including Groote Eylandt), the Gulf of Carpentaria (Australian Wildlife Conservancy 2010), coastal and near coastal eastern Queensland from Cape York to near Rockhampton (Richards et al., 2008), and western Queensland (including Riversleigh and Cammoweal districts; Bullen pers. comm., 2015).
The page saysTwo Ways to Hunt
The source saysThe ghost bat has a surface foraging strategy with two modes.
The page saysA ghost bat perches in vegetation to ambush prey passing on the ground or in the air, and it also gleans prey from surfaces such as the ground while in flight
The source saysIt perches in vegetation to ambush passing prey (either on the ground or in the air), and it also gleans surfaces such as the ground while in flight.
The page saysTagged bats in one study watched from vantage points and made brief sallies, mostly for insects on the ground, though they were also seen hawking flying insects
The source saysHunting behaviour within foraging areas consisted of observation at vantage points with brief sallies to capture prey (mostly insects on the ground), though hawking of flying insects was also observed.
The page saysThey moved to a new vantage point about every 15 minutes, and their foraging areas averaged 61 hectares, centred an average of 1.9 kilometres from the day roost
The source saysTidemann et al. (1985) found that foraging areas were centred, on average, 1.9 km from the daytime roost. The mean size of foraging areas was 61 ha ... Vantage points were changed about every 15 minutes during foraging periods
The page saysGhost bats prey on frogs, reptiles, birds, large insects, small mammals and other bats
The source saysThey are carnivores, with a broad diet comprising small mammals including other bats, birds, reptiles, frogs and large insects
The page saysPermanent roosts are generally deep natural caves or disused mines with a relatively stable 23 to 28 degrees Celsius and 50 to 100 percent humidity
The source saysRoost sites used permanently are generally deep natural caves or disused mines with a relatively stable temperature of 23°−28°C and a moderate to high relative humidity of 50−100 percent
The page saysGhost bats are easily disturbed and may abandon a roost where disturbance occurs
The source saysGhost bats are easily disturbed and may abandon sites where disturbance occurs
The page saysFemales breed at two to three years of age
The source saysFemales breed at an age of two to three years (Hoyle et al., 2001).
The page saysgive birth to a single pup
The source saysfemale bats gave birth to a single young in late spring
The page saysstarts flying at about seven weeks
The source saysJuvenile bats commenced flying at seven weeks with all young capable of flight by the end of January.
The page saysWild lifespan is unknown, though it is likely somewhat shorter than the 22.6 years one captive bat reached
The source saysLongevity in the wild is unknown, but is likely to be somewhat less than the maximum 22.6 years in captivity (AnAge 2012).Note: 'somewhat shorter' paraphrases 'somewhat less than'.
The page saysIn 2014 the population was estimated at fewer than 10,000 mature ghost bats, with a continuing decline
The source saysWoinarski et al. (2014) estimate the population size of the ghost bat to be fewer than 10 000 mature individuals, with an estimated continuing decline of greater than 10 percent in 24 years (three generations).Note: The source prints '10 000' with a space; same value.
The page saysBy 2016, populations in Kakadu National Park were believed to have fallen by more than 90 percent since cane toads arrived there in 2001
The source saysPopulations in Kakadu National Park are believed to have declined by more than 90 percent since the arrival of cane toads in 2001.Note: 'By 2016' dates the statement to the Conservation Advice.
The page saysbats have been found dead with chewed toads in their throats
The source saysbats have been found dead with chewed toads in their throats
The page saysgenetic work indicates the ghost bat cannot tolerate the toads' toxins
The source saysPoisoning by cane toads ... Genetic work indicates that the ghost bat is unable to tolerate bufotoxinsNote: 'cannot tolerate' paraphrases 'is unable to tolerate'; hedge 'indicates' kept. Listed under the threat 'Poisoning by cane toads'.
The page saysThe key threat is habitat loss from mining
The source saysThe key threat to the ghost bat is habitat loss and degradation due to mining activities
The page sayscollisions with fences, especially barbed wire, are known to kill substantial numbers
The source saysCollision with fences, especially those with barbed wire ... substantial numbers are known to be killed when colliding with fencing wire
The page saysAt Kohinoor Adit in the Northern Territory, named in 2016 as the largest known breeding site
The source saysthe largest known breeding site at Kohinoor Adit in Pine CreekNote: 'named in 2016' dates the statement to the 2016 Conservation Advice, the source quoted.
The page sayscounts reached 1,500 bats in January 1990 but were down to 550 by December 2013
The source saysJanuary 1990 1500 ... December 2013 550
The page saysa fall of 63 percent
The source saysKohinoor Adit, NT 1500 550 63% 60% (ongoing threats)Note: Table 4's summary row for Kohinoor Adit gives 'Past decline' as 63% for the 1990-2013 period.

Source
02

Australian Museum 2023

Ghost Bat. Australian Museum, 2023.

The page saysswooping to kill with powerful bites, then flying to a feeding site to eat
The source saysThey swoop on their prey killing with powerful bites, then fly to a feeding site to eat.
The page saysA noticeable creamy white area there gives the bat its ghost-like appearance, and its grey fur is patched with white
The source saysIts face has a noticeable creamy white area, giving the bat its ghost-like appearance. Its grey fur is patched with white fur.

Source
03

Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan

Macroderma gigas (Australian false vampire bat). Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan.

The page sayseats even the bones, teeth and fur of its prey
The source saysThey eat large amounts of food including flesh, bones, teeth, fur, small feathers, and the chitinous exoskeletons of insects.
The page saysBones and All
The source saysThey eat large amounts of food including flesh, bones, teeth, fur, small feathers, and the chitinous exoskeletons of insects.Note: Heading; the list of what they eat includes bones.
The page saysFlesh, bones, teeth, fur, small feathers and the hard shells of insects all get eaten, and in a 1970 account, captive ghost bats fed boneless meat soon became distressed
The source saysThey eat large amounts of food including flesh, bones, teeth, fur, small feathers, and the chitinous exoskeletons of insects. Ghost Bats appear to need this roughage in their diet because if they are fed on boneless meat in captivity they soon become distressed and fouled with loose excreta. (Ride 1970)Note: The account is Ride 1970 as cited by ADW; the sentence reports only the distress, not the 'appear to need' inference. 'all' refers to the listed items.
The page saysdangerLevel: Low
The source saysThere are no significant negative effects of ghost bats.
The page saysdrops on a mammal from above, wraps it in its wings and kills it with bites to the head and neck
The source saysGhost Bats drop on mammals from above, enveloping them with their flight membranes, and kill them with bites about the head and neck.

Source
04

AnAge: The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database, Human Ageing Genomic Resources

AnAge entry for Macroderma gigas. AnAge: The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database, Human Ageing Genomic Resources.

The page saysthe 22.6 years one captive bat reached
The source saysOne captive specimen lived for 22.6 years

Source
05

Pettigrew et al. 2008

Pettigrew et al. (2008). Peak Density and Distribution of Ganglion Cells in the Retinae of Microchiropteran Bats: Implications for Visual Acuity (Part 1 of 2). Brain, Behavior and Evolution.

The page saysthe sharpest estimated vision of six echolocating bats compared in one study
The source saysThe estimated upper limits of visual acuity of the six species of echolocating bats vary from about 0.35 cycles/degree in R. rouxi to about 2 cycles/degree in M. gigas.Note: M. gigas is the top of the study's range of estimated upper limits of visual acuity, across the six species it studied.
The page saysin a comparison of six echolocating bat species, the ghost bat had the longest eyes and the sharpest estimated vision of the group
The source saysThe axial lengths of microchiropteran eyes vary from 1.8 mm in R. rouxi to 7.0 mm in M. gigas. ... The estimated upper limits of visual acuity of the six species of echolocating bats vary from about 0.35 cycles/degree in R. rouxi to about 2 cycles/degree in M. gigas.Note: Axial eye length and estimated acuity both run from R. rouxi at the bottom to M. gigas at the top of the six species studied.
The page saysWhen scientists compared the retinas of six microbat species
The source saysIn all six species studied, the peak-density regions of presumed (or positively identified) RGCs are located in the inferotemporal retinae
The page saysthe ghost bat had the most retinal ganglion cells
The source saysThe total number of presumed RGCs varies among the species: from about 4,500 in Rhinolophus rouxi to about 120,000 in Macroderma gigas.Note: M. gigas is the top of the range among the six species studied.
The page saysroughly 120,000, against about 4,500 in the lowest-scoring species
The source saysThe total number of presumed RGCs varies among the species: from about 4,500 in Rhinolophus rouxi to about 120,000 in Macroderma gigas.

Source
06

Guppy & Coles 1988

Guppy & Coles (1988). Acoustical and neural aspects of hearing in the Australian gleaning bats,Macroderma gigas andNyctophilus gouldi. Journal of Comparative Physiology A.

The page saysHighly sensitive low-frequency hearing
The source saysIn M. gigas, the neural audiogram has sensitivity peaks at 10-20 kHz and 35-43 kHz, with extremely low thresholds (-18 dB SPL) in the low frequency region.
The page saysA ghost bat's outer ear boosts incoming sound by up to 30 decibels between 5 and 8 kilohertz
The source saysThe maximum acoustic gain of the external ear in Macroderma gigas was found to be 25-30 dB between 5-8 kHz
The page saysresearchers link its highly sensitive low-frequency hearing to hunting by passive listening
The source saysHighly sensitive low frequency hearing is discussed in relation to hunting in bats by passive listening.

Source
07

Boles 1999

Boles (1999). Avian prey of the Australian Ghost Bat Macroderma gigas (Microchiroptera: Megadermatidae): prey characteristics and damage from predation. Australian Zoologist.

The page saysA study of bird remains found ghost bats may take prey up to about two-thirds their own mass, but they prefer smaller birds: almost 70 percent of the bird species recorded weighed under 35 grams
The source saysthey may take animals up to about two-thirds their own mass, they have a preference for smaller birds, with almost 70% of the species having a mass less than 35 g

Source
08

Start, McKenzie & Bullen 2019

Start, McKenzie & Bullen (2019). Notes on bats in the diets of Ghost Bats (Macroderma gigas: Megadermatidae) in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. Records of the Western Australian Museum.

The page saysPrey remains from middens under ghost bat roosts in Western Australia's Pilbara region have identified nine other bat species on the menu there
The source saysWe identified those bones to extend (from four to nine species) knowledge of other bats consumed by Ghost Bats in the Pilbara ... Claramunt et al. (2019) published a list of vertebrate prey items recovered from refuse accumulations (middens) under Ghost Bat roosts
The page saysPrey remains collected under ghost bat roosts in the Pilbara include several bat species that commonly share cave roosts with ghost bats
The source saysIt is noteworthy that prey include species that utilise a wide variety of foraging strategies and airspaces (McKenzie and Bullen, 2009) and also that they include several species that commonly cohabit cave roosts with Ghost Bats in the Pilbara (Table 2).
The page saysthe 2019 study that identified them concluded that bats are an important part of the ghost bat's diet there
The source saysWe identified those bones to extend (from four to nine species) knowledge of other bats consumed by Ghost Bats in the Pilbara showing that bats are an important component of their diets.Note: Source is Start, McKenzie & Bullen (2019), Records of the Western Australian Museum 34.

Source
09

Armstrong et al. 2021

Armstrong et al. (2021). Macroderma gigas. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021: e.T12590A209530568.

The page saysVulnerable
The source saysIUCN Red List category: Vulnerable (VU).
The page saysThe species is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List
The source saysIUCN Red List category: Vulnerable (VU).

How the table was made: a writer drafted the profile from these sources and logged each claim with its quote, a reviewer with nothing but this table checked every sentence said no more than its quote, and a script confirmed each quote appears word for word in the source. The method is in the site'sAbout page.