The relative abundance, diet and roost selection of the tube-nosed insect bat,
Murina florium (Vespertilionidae), was investigated at
Mt Baldy and Ravenshoe State Forests in north-eastern Queensland. In all, 34
M. florium were captured in 263 trap-nights; this was in
the middle range of microchiropteran bat species captured. Faecal analysis
indicated that the major prey items of M. floriumwere
Coleoptera and Araneida. The presence of the latter prey item in faecal
pellets suggests that the species is a partial gleaner. Low levels of
predominantly myrtaceous pollen collected from head and throat fur indicated
only incidental exposure. M. florium used a variety of
external roosts in rainforest, with the only communal roost being located in a
fallen Archontophoenix leaf suspended from a liana.
Other roosts occupied by single M. florium were nests
(n = 7) of yellow-throated scrubwrens,
Sericornis citreogularis, and fernwrens,
Oreoscopus gutturalis, and vertically suspended dead
leaf clusters (n = 3). All roosts were located in
the rainforest understorey at a mean height of 4.2 m, positioned from close to
watercourses up to ridgelines. Bird nests utilised had been modified; the
possibility of tent-making behaviour in this species is discussed.
Roost selection of the short-nosed fruit bat, Cynopterus spp. in Sri Lanka
