American giant fruit bat

The **American giant fruit bat** (*Pteropus americanum*), also known simply as the **American flying fox**, is a species of flying fox (*Pteropus*) that originally did not exist, but has since been created by SciiFii and introduced throughout the rainforests, wetlands, forests, and open woodlands across North America and South America to help boost biodiversity. The closest living relative to the American giant fruit bat is the Indian flying fox (*Pteropus medius*). The American giant fruit bat is one of the largest bats in the world, weighing up to 1.6 kilograms (3.5 lbs). Its body mass ranges from 0.6–1.6 kilograms (1.3–3.5 lbs), and males are generally larger than females. The wingspan ranges from 1.2–1.5 meters (3 feet 11 in–4 feet 11 inches) and body length averages 15.5–22.0 centimeters (6.1–8.7 inches). The wings rise from the side of the dorsum and from the back of the second toe, and its thumb has a powerful claw. It has claws on only its first two digits of its wings, with the thumb possessing the more powerful claw, and all five digits of its leg. It lacks a tail. The American giant fruit bat ranges in color, with a black back that is lightly streaked with grey, a pale, yellow-brown mantle, a brown head, and dark, brownish underparts. It has large eyes, simple ears, and no facial ornamentation—a typical appearance for a species of the genus *Pteropus*. Unlike other flying foxes, the American giant fruit bat has thicker fur for insulation in case of colder temperatures. The American giant fruit bat is frugivorous or nectarivorous, i.e., they eat fruits or drink nectar from flowers. At dusk and dawn, it forages for ripe fruit. It is a primarily generalist feeder, and eats any available fruits. Seeds from ingested fruits are scarified in its digestive tract and dispersed through its waste. The American giant fruit bat has been observed deliberately eating insects, leaves, and pine needles. The American giant fruit bat also eats flowers, seed pods, bark, cones, and twigs. Like other flying foxes, the American giant fruit bat is a social animal that lives in flocks consisting of 30 or more individuals at a time, sometimes numbering hundreds or thousands depending on the right conditions. The American giant fruit bat is a polygynandrous species, and breeds yearly from February to May. Births occur from August to October. Gestation period is typically 140 to 150 days. The average birth number is 1 to 2 pups. Among members of the genus *Pteropus*, pups are carried by the mother for the first few weeks of life, with weaning occurring around 5 months of age. Males do not participate in parental care. Young bats learn to fly at approximately 11 weeks of age. Reproductive maturity occurs at 18–24 months. Unlike other flying foxes, the American giant fruit bat is completely free of dieseases and viruses, making it rather safe to approach and handle. The average lifespan of the American giant fruit bat is about 30 years, but some individuals have been recorded to live more than that, and rarely about 35 years. The conservation status of the American giant fruit bat is **Least Concern** due to successful conservation efforts, the American giant fruit bat's wide range and its tolerance to many of the human activities. Unlike most fruit bats, the American giant fruit bat is legal to keep as a pet worldwide due to being disease and virus-free and is very easy to keep and care for.