Chocolate Wattled Bat
Scientific name: Chalinolobus morio
Click to enlarge image
Bat, Chocolate Wattled
AY-30891.tif
Image: ALLAN YOUNG
© Australian Museum
© Australian Museum
Fast Facts
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Classification
- Genus
- Chalinolobus
- Species
- morio
- Family
- Vespertilionidae
- Order
- Chiroptera
- Subclass
- Eutheria
- Subphylum
- Vertebrata
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Kingdom
- Animalia
Introduction
Chocolate Wattled Bats living in southern Australia hibernate during winter.
Chocolate Wattle Bat, Chalinolobus morio, with its mouth open, vocalising.
Image: R & A Williams© Australian Museum
Habitat
Chocolate Wattled Bats roost mainly in hollows in old trees, as well as disused birds' nests. They roost in caves in the Nullarbor area of South Australia. They roost together in colonies of 20 to a few hundred bats.
Distribution
Distribution data sourced from the Atlas of Living Australia
Feeding and diet
Chocolate Wattled Bats feed mainly on small moths. They fly quite fast as they twist and turn while hunting for their prey.
Chocolate Wattled Bats roosting under roof
Image: Allan young© Australian Museum
Conservation status
Chocolate Wattled Bats are vulnerable to loss of roost sites in tree hollows and loss of feeding grounds by forestry activities, clearing for agriculture and housing.
