Steve Parish Publishing

"Few Australian mammals are as misunderstood as bats and flying-foxes," admits wildlife photographer Steve Parish. These incredible animals are the only Australian mammals to have mastered true flight (gliders do not flap their 'wings' like bats do in order to fly). Other amazing adaptations, like echolocation, in some species have also helped these winged mammals colonise much of the continent.

From the large flying-foxes (or fruit bats) to tiny microbats, which are often mistaken for moths in the dark of night, to the grotesquely unique Ghost Bat, Australia has a multitude of bat species to study and explore. Yet many people are either afraid of bats or resent them as fruit-thieves or disease-carriers. In fact, most of the ill will towards bats by humans is undeserved, and the threat of being infected by bats is little greater than being made ill by associating with the family cat or dog.

Bats deserve our respect and care as important pollinators of native plants, as well as crucial components of our ecosystems. Without them, several important natural habitats would struggle to thrive or survive. Delve more into the nocturnal world of these flying mammals with some of our great new bat titles and discover just how fascinating these mammals really are!