An Observation Of Cat Predation Upon An Eastern Blossom Bat Syconycteris Australis

Abstract

WITH a body weight of 15 - 19 g and a mean headbody length of just over 60 mm (Churchill 1998), the eastern blossom bat Syconycteris australis is one of the smallest members of the sub-order Megachiroptera. Within Australia S. australis is restricted in distribution to the east coast from Cape York in Queensland to near Forster on the mid-north coast of New South Wales (NSW) (Law 1994a). Habitat requirements include both rainforest and/or wet sclerophyll forest for roosting purposes and proximal areas of heathland for foraging (Law 1993). The species survives on a diet of nectar and pollen and is heavily dependent upon Banksia integrifolia inflorescences during the winter months (Law 1994b, 1996; Coburn 1995). Blossom bats are generally regarded as solitary and exhibit strong fidelity to their feeding areas (Law 1993), although movements of up to 30 km have been reported (Law 1996).