Bats (Chiroptera)Black Flying-Fox (Pteropus alecto) Finlayson’s Cave Bat (Vespadelus finlaysoni) Ghost Bat (Macroderma gigas) Little Red Flying-Fox (Pteropus scapulatus)

Belonging to the class Mammalia, Bats are under the order Chiroptera. With forelimbs that are covered in a thin membrane (a patagium, which in the bat is a fold of skin between the forelimbs and hindlimbs) and adapted as wings, they are the only living mammal that are capable of true and sustained flight.

Grey-headed Flying Fox (Pteropus poliocephalus), Royal Botanic Garden Sydney NSW
Grey-headed Flying Fox (Pteropus poliocephalus), Royal Botanic Garden Sydney NSW

Bats can be found in tropical and temperate zones around the world. Their habitat are varied from tropical forest to desert zones, agricultural areas and open fields to urban environments. They have very specific roosting needs, that vary from caves and crevices, to trees and under logs. They have even been know to dwell in artificial habitats such as buildings. Whilst they may have specific roosting needs, they are also known to vary their roosting behaviour at different times of the year.

Little Red Flying-Fox (Pteropus scapulatus), Bundaberg QLD © Tony Eales
Little Red Flying-Fox (Pteropus scapulatus), Bundaberg QLD © Tony Eales

Check out our information on the:


  • Scientific classification
  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Chordata
  • Subphylum: Vertebrata
  • Informal: Gnathostomata
  • Class: Mammalia
  • Subclass: Eutheria
  • Order: Chiroptera
  • Suborder: Yinpterochiroptera
  • Superfamily: Pteropodoidea
  • Family: Pteropodidae
  • Genus: Pteropus
  • Species: Pteropus alecto

  • Scientific classification
  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Chordata
  • Subphylum: Vertebrata
  • Informal: Gnathostomata
  • Class: Mammalia
  • Subclass: Eutheria
  • Order: Chiroptera
  • Suborders: Yinpterochiroptera
  • Superfamily: Pteropodoidea
  • Family: Pteropodidae
  • Subfamily: Pteropodinae
  • Genus: Pteropus
  • Species: Pteropus poliocephalus

  • Scientific classification
  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Chordata
  • Subphylum: Vertebrata
  • Informal: Gnathostomata
  • Class: Mammalia
  • Subclass: Eutheria
  • Order: Chiroptera
  • Suborders: Yinpterochiroptera
  • Superfamily: Pteropodoidea
  • Family: Pteropodidae
  • Subfamily: Pteropodinae
  • Genus: Pteropus
  • Species: Pteropus scapulatus

  • Scientific classification
  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Chordata
  • Subphylum: Vertebrata
  • Informal: Gnathostomata
  • Class: Mammalia
  • Subclass: Eutheria
  • Order: Chiroptera
  • Suborders: Yinpterochiroptera
  • Superfamily: Rhinolophoidea
  • Family: Megadermatidae
  • Genus: Macroderma
  • Species: Macroderma gigas

Footnote & References

  1. Chiroptera, Atlas of Living Australia, https://bie.ala.org.au/species/CHIROPTERA

Bats (Chiroptera)Black Flying-Fox (Pteropus alecto) Finlayson’s Cave Bat (Vespadelus finlaysoni) Ghost Bat (Macroderma gigas) Little Red Flying-Fox (Pteropus scapulatus)

FaunaFauna Index Arachnida (Arachnids) Bats (Chiroptera) Birds Camel Chilopoda Crustacea Dingo Frogs Gastropoda Horse Hyrtl’s Catfish Insects Macropodidae Mammalia Marsupials Monotreme Reptiles Rodentia Class Mammalia Spiders Spinifex Hopping Mouse Ticks