Fruit Bat

Fruit Bat Fruit Bat - Photo: Jeffrey Paul Wade/Shutterstock

Fruit Bat / Megabat Facts

Size	2.3-12.5 inches (60 mm to 32 cm)
Speed	Up to 25 mph (40 km/h)
Weight	0.4 ounces to 3.5 pounds (12 grams to 1,6 kg)
Lifespan	8-10 years
Food	Fruit, nectar, pollen
Predators	Cats, snakes, rats
Distribution	Africa, Asia, Australia
Habitat	Tropical and subtropcial forests
Order	Chiroptera
Family	Megabats
Scientific name	Megachiroptera
Characteristics	Mammal that can fly; large eyes, utilizes vision

Main Characteristics

Fruit bats along with microbats are among the only mammals capable of flight. Like microbats, fruit bats are nocturnal creatures and form large colonies. However, instead of eating insects, they consume nectar and pollen. They rely on their excellent eyesight for navigation rather than echolocation.

Fruit Bats Fruit Bats - Photo: Independent birds/Shutterstock

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Records

The Largest Colony

Fruit bats often live in large groups. In the Philippines, there is a small island called Samal Island, which is home to the Monfort Cave. This cave houses 1.8 million flying foxes, a record that is even listed in the Guinness Book of Records (2010). Over 640 animals can be found crammed into a single square meter there.

The Largest Gathering

Among all mammals in the world, the straw-coloured fruit bats create the largest assembly of animals. Each year, they migrate from various regions of Africa to the Kasanka National Park in Zambia to feast on ripe mangoes. There are between 5 to 10 million of these creatures.

Species

There are about 200 species of flying foxes.

Lyle's Flying Fox Lyle's Flying Fox - Photo: Worraket/Shutterstock

Distribution and Habitat

Their habitat consists of tropical forests in Africa, Asia, and Australia. The Maldives are known for their two species of fruit bats: the Indian flying fox and the small flying fox. They are the only native land mammals found there. The only European flying fox is the Egyptian fruit bat, which can be found in Cyprus.

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Way of Life

Fruit bats are nocturnal. During the day, they can be seen hanging visibly from branches while they sleep. To keep warm and cozy, they wrap their wings around their bodies. They are very social animals and form large groups.

Fruit Bat Anatomy and Appearance Fruit Bat Anatomy and Appearance - Photo: chamnan phanthong/stock.adobe.com

Anatomy and Appearance

Size and Weight

The Largest Fruit Bats

The large flying fox, the giant golden-crowned flying fox, and the Indian flying fox are considered the largest of their kind. The large flying fox and the Indian flying fox boast an impressive wingspan of up to 4.9 feet (1.50 meters), while the giant golden-crowned flying fox can reach up to 5.5 feet (1.7 meters). The large flying fox has the longest body length at 12.5 inches (32 cm), and the heaviest is the Indian flying fox, weighing in at 3.5 pounds (1.6 kg).

The Smallest Flying Fox

The smallest flying fox is the pygmy fruit bat, measuring only 60-85 mm in body length and weighing between 0.4-0.6 ounces (12-18 grams). This makes it roughly the size of a business card and as light as a small candy.

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The Differences between Fruit Bats and Microbat

Fruit Bat	Microbat
• Large eyes	• Small eyes
• Good eyesight	• Poor eyesight (echolocation!)
• Eats fruits, nectar, pollen	• Eats insects
• Large body	• Small body

Epauletted Fruit Bat Epauletted Fruit Bat - Photo: Shutterstock

Diet

Flying foxes are herbivores, specifically fruit and nectar eaters. Their diet consists of nectar, pollen, fruits, and flowers. Some species also consume leaves, twigs, and bark.

Behavior

Takeoff and Landing

When flying foxes are not in the air, they hang upside down from branches or rock ledges, just like bats. They take off by dropping from their hanging position and then quickly flapping their wings. To land, they fly so slowly that it seems like they are hovering in the air before gripping onto something. Some even perform a little flip while doing so.

Black Flying Fox Black Flying Fox - Photo: Andrew Mercer (www.baldwhiteguy.co.nz) [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Are Flying Foxes Dangerous?

Are They Aggressive?

Flying foxes do not feed on blood, in case that is a concern! They are not aggressive and do not seek out humans to bite. These creatures are shy and peaceful.

Do They Transmit Diseases?

If a flying fox feels threatened, whether from being touched or unintentionally crowded, it may bite in self-defense. This can lead to the transmission of dangerous viruses. Infection with viruses can also occur through feces, saliva, and urine. Pets that consume food scraps from flying foxes can become intermediate hosts and transmit viruses as well.

Grey-Headed Flying Fox Grey-Headed Flying Fox - Photo: Andrew/stock.adobe.com

Senses and Abilities

Sense of Sight

Unlike bats, flying foxes do not use echolocation. They rely on their eyesight, which is their most important sense. They have large eyes adapted for seeing at night.

Sense of Smell

Flying foxes possess an excellent sense of smell, allowing them to detect delicious fruits from a distance. They have a unique ability to "smell in stereo," meaning they can determine the direction of different scents simultaneously. Their sense of smell is said to be even better than that of dogs, at least when it comes to fruits.

Swimming

It may look strange, but yes: flying foxes and bats can swim very well! They lie flat in the water and move their front limbs in a manner similar to breaststroke.

Intelligence

Flying foxes have a memory of the past, recalling everything they have experienced throughout their lives. They also understand the concept of time. They have a sense of how long things take. Moreover, they even plan for the future. They consider which fruits they can eat, where to find them, and when they will be ripe. Such considerations demand a high level of intelligence.

Small Flying Fox Small Flying Fox - Photo: Pavel Kirillov [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Life Expectancy

In the wild, flying foxes typically live for 8-10 years.

Enemies and Threats

Natural Enemies

The natural enemies of flying foxes include birds of prey, snakes, carnivorous mammals, and large lizards.

Human Impact

The greatest threat comes from human activities. Deforestation of tropical rainforests (mainly for the cultivation of livestock feed) is causing them to lose their habitat. Because they feed on fruit, they are considered pests and hunted on fruit plantations. Their meat is sold in markets as what is known as "bushmeat". The fear of contracting viruses also contributes to their hunting and killing.

Endangered Species

Generally, flying foxes are not regarded as an endangered species. However, there are a few species that are threatened, such as the Bulmer's fruit bats. They are the rarest species of flying fox in the world and are at risk of extinction. These animals live in a cave in Papua New Guinea, and there are only about 137-160 individuals left (as of 2016).

Large Fruit Bat Large Fruit Bat - Photo: DaryaDarkina2019 [CC BY 4.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Importance for the Ecosystem

They Pollinate Flowers

Flying foxes play a crucial role in maintaining biodiversity in nature. Since they feed on nectar and pollen, they pollinate flowers - similar to bees. Many fruits like mangoes, bananas, guavas, lychees, and even cacti are also pollinated by flying foxes. The durian tree (known for its "stinky fruit") in Asia, as well as the baobab and breadfruit trees in Africa and the kapok tree in South America, are exclusively pollinated by flying foxes.

They Plant Trees

Additionally, flying foxes eat fruits and disperse their seeds through their droppings. From these seeds, new plants grow. Palm flying foxes can distribute thousands of seeds in a single night. In doing so, they plant new trees and help to reforest deforested areas.

Flying Fox as a Pet

Flying foxes do not make good pets. They are not solitary animals. To keep them in a way that meets their needs, one must have several animals. This, in turn, creates a high space requirement—after all, most of them have a large wingspan and want to spread their wings. Furthermore, they can transmit dangerous viruses.

Reproduction

Fruit bats do almost everything upside down – even mating occurs upside down. They reproduce only once a year. Both males and females raise the young together.

Fun Facts

Are There Other Mammals That Can Fly?

The only mammals that can also travel through the air over longer distances are flying squirrels. However, they don’t actually fly; they glide towards the ground.