Native Bats and Rodents

Question 1

Chiroptera (Bats)

Answer 1

• Two suborders: Megachiroptera and Microchiroptera
• Only mammals capable of sustained flight
• Bones are light and slender
• Wings = thin membrane from shoulder to digits of forelimb and distal hindlimb

Question 2

Chiroptera (Bats) - Forelimb

Answer 2

• Short humerus
• Long radius/ulna
• Very long digits

Question 3

Chiroptera (Bats) - Hindlimb

Answer 3

• 5 clawed toes

- Can’t be brought directly under body

Question 4

How does reproduction in Chiroptera (Bats) vary in comparison to other small mammals?

Answer 4

• Relatively long-lived
• Slow to reach sexual maturity
• Long gestation
• Small litter size
• Approx 1 year inter-birth interval

Question 5

Chiroptera (Bats) - Reproduction

Answer 5

• Seasonal breeders
• Relatively long-lived
• Slow to reach sexual maturity
• Long gestation
• Single large young (initially carried then left in nurseries)
• Approx 1 year inter-birth interval

Question 6

How do Chiroptera (Bats) accomodate for hibernation and long gestation?

Answer 6

• Mate in autumn
• Delay development of the fetus over winter
• Resume development in Spring
• Birth in Summer

Question 7

Chiroptera

Answer 7

Bats

Question 8

How can you distinguish between male and female Chiroptera (Bats)?

Answer 8

• Males have an obvious penis

- Testes may be intra-abdominal or externally housed in scrotum

Question 9

Microchiroptera - Reproduction

Answer 9

• Only right ovary and uterine horn functional
• Sperm storage or embryonic diapause over winter hibernation
• Rudimentary teats in inguinal region

Question 10

Suborder: Megachiroptera

Answer 10

• 15g - 1kg
• Good eyesight and sense of smell (don’t use echolocation)
• Eat pollen and nectar
• Simple GIT

Question 11

Megachiroptera - Morphology

Answer 11

• Tail short/absent

- Reduced teeth

Question 12

Megachiroptera - Behaviour

Answer 12

• Roost in large colonies

- Movement and establishment of camps strongly influenced by blossum

Question 13

Suborder: Microchiroptera

Answer 13

• “Microbats”
• 4 - 170g
• Fusion of some vertebrae, ribs and pectoral girdle
• Simple GIT

Question 14

Microchiroptera - General behaviour

Answer 14

• Roost in sheltered areas, e.g. caves, tree hollows
• Colonies or individuals
• Large SA/kg
• Conserve energy by aggregation, torpor, hibernation

Question 15

Microchiroptera - Feeding

Answer 15

• Poor eyesight - use ultrasound echolocation
• Higher echolocation frequency can detect smaller prey
• Reflections collected by large pinnae
• Catch insects in mouth or with wings/tail membrane

Question 16

Zoonotic Bat Viruses

Answer 16

• Broad distribution and high mobility makes bats ideal vectors and hosts for pathogen transmission
• Thoroughly wash/disinfect wounds
• Rabies vaccine

Question 17

Menangle Virus

Answer 17

• Reproductive problems in pigs
• Flu-like symptoms in piggery workers
• Carried by megachiroptera

Question 18

Australian Bat Lyssavirus

Answer 18

• Closely related to rabies
• Carried by mega- and microchiroptera
• Present in saliva
• Long incubation
• Causes encephalitis

Question 19

Encephalitis

Answer 19

Inflammation of the brain caused by a virus

Question 20

Hendra Virus

Answer 20

• Horse and human deaths
• Carried by megachiroptera
• Present in bat urine/uterine fluids
• Causes encephalitis and respiratory disease

Question 21

Rodents

Answer 21

Order: Rodentia
Family: Muridae

Question 22

Rodents - Old endemics

Answer 22

• New Holland mouse
• Mitchell’s Hopping Mouse
• Water rat
• Plains rat

Question 23

Rodents - New endemics

Answer 23

• Bush rat

- Swamp rat

Question 24

How do can you distinguish between Marsupials and Rodents?

Answer 24

Rodents have:

• 2 externally visible openings for rectum and urogenital
• No canines/premolars, 1 pair of upper and lower incisors
• No pouch
• Scrotum caudal to penis
• Lack of syndactyly

Question 25

Native vs Introduces Rodents

Answer 25

• Nipples - old endemics have 4, new have 6-12

- Old endemics have large eyes and blunt nose