Britannica
Sources used in this answer
Which bats catch fish with their feet and claws?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
bat
Livingstone's fruit bat (Pteropus livingstonii) in flight.
The bats that catch fish with their feet and claws are known as bulldog bats (family Noctilionidae), specifically the greater bulldog bat, or fisherman bat (Noctilio leporinus).1
These bats are specialized for this behavior, possessing exceptionally large hind feet armed with long, strong, hooklike claws. They forage low over water, using echolocation to detect ripples caused by fish near the surface. Once prey is located, the bat drags its claws through the water to gaff and seize the fish. While the greater bulldog bat specializes in this diet, other species within the genus Myotis also include fish-eating bats that utilize similar anatomical adaptations.123