Can be locally common in eastern Australia seaward of the Great Dividing Range from Cape York to Victoria. Roosts in small colonies in caves and mineshafts.
Characterised by an elaborate noseleaf, the lower part of which is U-shaped similar to a horseshoe shape. When at rest Horseshoe bats hang from the roof of caves and wrap their wings around themselves much as Fruit Bats do. With its long ears and intricate horseshoe-shaped noseleaf topped off with a prominent projection it is one of Australia’s most unusual looking cave-dwelling bats.
Complete Book of Australian Mammals (Australian Museum) edited by R Strahan
Classifications: | Mammal |
Family: | Rhinolophidae (Horseshoe Bats) |
Information sources: | Photos taken at Strathdickie by Graham Armstrong |