Fruit bats have small, weak teeth and long, bristly tongues. As the bat probes the flower for nectar, it collects pollen on its furry head and neck. It then carries the pollen to other flowers. Many tropical trees rely on bats for successful pollination of their flowers. Whereas trees pollinated by birds often produce red flowers to attract the birds, those that rely on bat-pollinators produce large amounts of nectar and pollen and often tend to have flowers that are drab, bloom at night, or have a fetid smell.
Fruit bats eat the fruit of cecropia and other trees and are essential seed dispersers.
The seeds pass through their digestive tracts and are thus widely scattered throughout the forest. Scientists have observed that most bats spend only a few seconds or so at each nectar and pollen-rich clump of flowers. 1998 Passport to Knowledge. All Rights Reserved.