Diet of the Large-footed Myotis Myotis Mcropus at A Forest Stream Roost in Northern New South Wales

Abstract

RECENT evidence indicates that the large-footed myotis Myotis macropus (previously Myotis adversus) is the sole representative of its genus in Australia (Cooper et al. in press). These are small bats that forage over pools of water in small streams, rivers and lakes, using large feet to trawl for prey along water surfaces (Dwyer 1970; Thompson and Fenton 1982). Little is known about their diet. Fish have been confirmed in the diet of M. macropus at a population that forages over a large lake, near Brisbane (Robson 1984). Unidentified insect material formed the bulk of the species’ diet in Robson’s study. A small number of scats were also examined from M. macropus caught on the Murray River in South Australia (Jansen 1987). These contained fish remains and insects, particularly Chironominae (midges) and Culicidae (mosquitoes). We studied the diet of M. macropus at a forest stream to determine the importance of aquatic prey and thus to help guide management strategies for the species.