Pteropus giganteus Fruit bats, or flying foxes, which they are often called because of their fox-like face, are much larger than insectivorous bats. The giant fruit bat pictured to the right has a four foot wingspan.
Fruit bats use their large canine teeth to pierce the skins of fruit.
They crush the fruit in their mouth, spitting out most of the seeds and pulp. Their mouth's small opening allows them to retain as much juice as possible. During the day, bats roost by hanging upside down from the tops of sparsely leaved trees. This position allows them to take flight by simply opening their wings and dropping. The hind limbs of bats are joined to the hip in reverse of ours, pointing the knee backwards.