Flying Foxes | About Bats Flying Foxes General Information Flying-foxes (also called fruit bats) are members of a large group of mammals called BATS. There are microbats and megabats. Bats are the only group of mammals capable of sustained flight. There are four recognized species of megabats on mainland Australia: The Little Red, Grey-headed, Black and Spectacled Flying-foxes. They have a very keen sense of smell and good eyesight, both of which are needed to locate their food during the night. Microbats use echolocation – a bit like hearing with pictures, they still use their eyes to see too. Flying foxes and microbats are protected native Australian species, it is illegal to cause them harm. Flying-foxes are usually found in coastal areas of melaleuca and casuarina swamps, mangroves, heath, dry and wet eucalypt forests, woodlands and rainforests. The little red flying fox can also be found further inland in arid and semi-arid areas.

Flying-foxes all over Australia are increasingly on the move searching for new or existing food resources – their favorite foods, nectar and pollen from our native trees and plants. Family life Flying foxes only have one live young per year, which compared to other animals of their size, is a very low birth rate. The little red gives birth around April/May whilst the remaining three species give birth around October/November. The mothers carry their babies out each night to forage. The baby clings to the mothers underarm nipple with their mouths and hang onto her waist with their toes. They are carried by their mother for 4-5 weeks until too heavy to carry. The young is then left in the colony or the outlying trees of a colony and wait for their mother to return at dawn. They begin to fly at about 8-10 weeks and feed independently by about 12 weeks. The bond between mother and baby is very strong, mothers who lose their babies to predators while off foraging will search the place they last saw their baby and continue calling for up to one week later. Females start breeding when they are about 15 months old.

Males do not mature until around 3 years of age and they then form either paired or harem groups during the mating season. It is during this season that flying-foxes tend to be the noisiest due to the defending of territories. It is also during this time that the campsite appears to emit the strongest odor due to secretions from the male scent glands at his shoulders. He will rub this perfume on branches to mark his territory. The higher a male hangs in the tree and the smellier he is the more attractive he is to a mate. You need to think about this smell, it’s musky and sometimes strong after rain but it is not as bad as the smell of stepping in dog poo! Campsites Campsites are very important to the survival of flying-foxes, as this is where they are born, grow, form relationships and learn to survive. Campsites may be permanently or temporarily occupied throughout the year depending on the season and availability of food. Flying-foxes only have one live young per year. The Little red gives birth around April/May whilst the remaining three species give birth around October/November.

The size of the campsite may also vary during the year, increasing when there is a good food source around or when mothers arrive to give birth to their young. Numbers may also increase if there is little food elsewhere or another campsite has been disturbed or destroyed. A decrease in numbers usually indicates poor food in the area or disturbance of a campsite. Flying-foxes need campsites made up of large areas so that they can circulate with the site according to the defoliation of the trees in which they roost. Currently many sites sustain more damage due to the small areas that the flying-foxes are now confined to and due to their staying longer because of lack of food elsewhere or due to the extensive distances that now exist between campsites. Campsites are usually located on rivers, creeks or near large bodies of water, which provide both fresh water, and a navigation device when coming home at night. Feeding Habits Flying-foxes are very fond of the nectar, pollen and fruit of native Australian forest trees such as eucalypts, Melaleuca, Banksia, Lily pilly and Moreton bay figs.

Although they do consume cultivated fruit such as peaches, mangoes and pawpaw, they only do so when their native food is scarce. Flying-foxes generally migrate from one area to another depending on the amount of food available. Unfortunately, with land clearing for agriculture and urban development, the flying foxes have very few areas in which they can migrate to once flowering/fruiting ceases in another area and so find it necessary to sometimes eat cultivated fruit. Role in our environment The food that flying foxes eat and the method by which they forage and process that food has lead to the flying fox being one of the most efficient pollinators and seed dispersers of native Australian forest trees. As they move amongst the flowers of Eucalypts or Melaleuca searching for nectar, large amounts of pollen attach to their fur. When they fly to the next tree, which may be several kilometers away, this pollen is deposited on the stigma of awaiting flowers. Such transport of pollen is very important for trees such as eucalypts as they rely on cross-pollination, i.e. pollen coming in from other trees which are a substantial distance away.

In the case of seed dispersal, many seeds will not grow unless they are a certain distance away from the parent tree. Flying foxes carry out seed dispersal by one of three methods: 1) carrying the fruit away and dropping it accidentally, 2) carrying the fruit away, eating the flesh and spitting out the seeds and 3) consuming the fruit and seeds but passing the seeds through the gut. Flying foxes have a very short digestive tract, thus seeds swallowed are not digested but pass through the gut within 12-34 minutes. Viruses Flying foxes have recently been associated with two potentially pathogenic viruses: Hendra or Equine Morbillivirus (EMV) and Australian Bat Lyssavirus (ABLV). Hendra virus is not contagious from bat to human, it may require a mediator, such as horses in the case of the Australian incidents. More research needs to be done as the suspected transmission mode from bats to horses is not known. Another animal may prove to be the vector.

ABLV If you do find an injured bat alone during the day, it needs help, whether it is a flying fox or a microbat, do not pick it up, like any wild animal it may bite when frightened or injured, seek help immediately - call Bat Conservation & Rescue Qld Inc on 0488 228 134. With regard to Lyssavirus, only a small proportion of the bat population may have the virus, it is very rare. Do not risk infection to yourself and the death of the bat, please – do not handle bats. If bitten or scratched, wash the area immediately and thoroughly with soap and warm water, and seek medical attention as soon as possible. Remember NO TOUCH = NO RISK Conservation Flying fox numbers have decreased dramatically over the last 50 years due to loss of habitat, uncontrolled killing at orchards and poor management procedures. With changes in climatic conditions our forests are flowering at different times, flowering with no nectar production or not flowering at all. There are also heat events where thousand of young may perish when temperatures rise over 40 degrees C. We know very little about bat behaviour yet there is little research into their decline nationally.

If governments and communities do not work to preserve their populations now Australian forests, our hardwood and rainforests will decline and our entire ecosystem will be under threat. Recovery teams have now been formed for both the grey-headed and the spectacled flying fox in an attempt to bring their numbers back from such dangerous levels. These teams are headed by the Queensland Environmental Protection Agency, New South Wales Department of Environment and Conservation, and the Department of Environment and Heritage. Information by Dr. Patrina Birt ADDITIONAL RESOURCES DEPI - Facts about flying foxes Facts about flying foxes Permits and application forms Facts about flying foxes The following general information about bats is largely provided by the New South Wales Ku-ring-gai Bat Conservation Society Inc. Included on this page: General information A bat is a flying mammal, not a bird. Bats are the only flying mammal. There are over 1,000 species of bats in the world belonging to the order Chiroptera (which means 'hand winged').

These can be divided into two suborders: megabats (Megachiroptera), of which there are about 170 species microbats (Microchiroptera) which make up the majority of bat species. One quarter of all mammal species in the world are bats, and in Australia there are over 90 species. Bats vary in weight from a few grams for the smallest bats to the largest flying-foxes which weigh over one kilogram. The smallest bat species have a wingspan of about 20 millimetres while the largest reach almost 2 metres. Bats hang by their feet with their head down because it is energy efficient. In order to reduce as much weight as possible for flight, the bones and muscles of the legs are very light weight compared with those of a non-flying mammal of comparable size. The biggest bones and muscles are those used for flying. Wings The wings of bats are made of two thin layers of almost hairless, soft, strong, elastic skin which stretches between very elongated finger bones and joins the side of the body from the arm to the ankle. In microbats the membrane extends between the legs and includes the tail. These wings contain blood vessels and nerves.

They stretch easily for flight yet contract when not in use. Different bat species have different wing shapes depending on where and how they catch their food. Reproduction Bats are mammals but do not have a pouch. Only marsupial mammals have a pouch. Bats are eutherian (placental) mammals. This means that their babies are born fully developed and are nourished on their mother's milk, just like humans. Diet One of the easiest ways to distinguish microbats and megabats is diet. Megabats are larger and feed on nectar, pollen and fruit. Flying-foxes belong to this group. Microbats are smaller and are usually insect eating, carnivorous bats. All bats feed at night. Scientists believe that microbats evolved from small, nocturnal mammals to feed on night flying insects, therefore avoiding competition with birds that are active during the day. Megabats, which feed on night-flowering, nectar-producing plants, may have evolved from different ancestors. History The oldest fossil bats known in the world are microbat fossils. Fossil teeth found at Murgon, Queensland, Australia, date back 55 million years.

Other microbat fossils found are: Icaronycteris foundin Wyoming, USA, dated to 50 million years Archaeonycteris foundin Germany, dated about 45 million years. Some bat fossils are so well preserved that remains of insects and other small animals that they had eaten can be seen inside the body. The rich Australian fossil beds at Riversleigh in north-west Queensland contain many microbat fossils up to 25 million years old. Megabat fossils have been found in Thailand, Italy, Africa and New Guinea, but have not yet been found in Australia. Bats in Victoria All Victorian native wildlife is protected under the Wildlife Act 1975. This includes microbats and megabats. Nationally threatened species are afforded extra protection under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). Of the bat species found in Victoria, the southern bent-wing bat is listed as critically endangered nationally and the grey-headed flying-fox and south-eastern long-eared bat are listed as vulnerable under the EPBC Act.

Bat species listed as threatened in Victoria under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 are: common bent-wing bat Microbats (sub-order Microchiroptera) Bats from this group are found on all continents across the world except Antarctica. In Australia there are many species of microbats ranging from the carnivorous ghost bat, the largest, which weighs up to 150 grams, to tiny forest bats weighing just three grams. Diet Microbats are important because they eat vast numbers of insects, thus contributing to the control of insect populations in the natural environment. This is important because microbats control many insect pests of crops and insects that spread disease such as malaria. Each species of microbat eats different sized food including mice, frogs, other bats, small birds, fish, large grasshoppers, moths, caterpillars, beetles, bugs, spiders, scorpions, cockroaches, flies, ants, mosquitoes, termites and gnats. On the American continents there are microbat species which also feed on fruit, flowers and blood. Calls Microbats are able to find their way in the dark and catch their food using echolocation.

High frequency sound pulses made in the larynx (voicebox) are emitted either through the nose or mouth. Echoes of these calls reflected back to the bat's ears allow it to know the position, relative distance and character of objects in its environment. The echolocation sounds are nearly all above the hearing range of people. Microbats use other calls for communication particularly in the roost. Habitat Some microbat species live in caves in large colonies. Other species roost in hollows in trees, under bark, in small holes in logs or fence posts, in bird's nests, under bridges, or in the roofs or walls of buildings. Radio-tracking of individual microbats has shown that they use a number of different roosts in an area. Microbats rarely move about in daylight, but venture out to hunt for food at night. Most microbats catch prey in flight but a few species hunt on all fours for ground living invertebrates. Hibernation In winter there are few insects about so microbats in cold climates such as southern Australia save energy by hibernating.

When hibernating, microbats roost in a cold, sheltered place, and are able to drop their body temperature close to that of their surroundings and slow their heart rate. Disturbance of hibernating bats can cause them to return to operating temperature. This uses up fat reserves, which they need to survive until there are enough insects to feed on. Disturbance of hibernating bats can cause death. Microbats can also use torpor which is similar to hibernation, but used only for a few hours or days to conserve energy when food is scarce. Reproduction Microbat babies are born in the spring and summer when days are warm and food is plentiful. Most species give birth to one young per year. Newborn microbats are not furred and their eyes are closed at first. By six to eight weeks, they are fully developed and able to fly and feed with adults. Some species give birth in maternity caves where the shape of the cave roof traps the body heat of the adults so that the unfurred young are able to survive when the mothers leave them to feed at night. Some maternity caves are known to contain hundreds of thousands of bats.

Other species form maternity colonies in the hollows of big old trees or in buildings. Mother microbats, which roost in tree hollows, carry their babies from one hollow to another. This behaviour may be to avoid predators or it might be to avoid a build up of parasites, or both. Megabats (sub-order Megachiroptera) Megabats are large bats that navigate by sight and smell and feed on plant products. They can be found in Africa, the Middle East, Southern Asia, Australia and many islands. In Australia there are 12 megabat species including: flying-foxes tube-nosed fruit bats blossom bats. Of the eight species of flying-fox there are four widespread species occurring on the mainland of Australia. These are: the black flying-fox the grey-headed flying-fox the little red flying-fox. The first three species have similar habits and lifestyle but are found in different parts of Australia, their ranges overlapping in part. In contrast, the little red flying-fox is smaller, gives birth at a different time, and tends to follow the flowering of the eucalypts inland, moving to the coast irregularly.

Flying-foxes as primates The theory that flying-foxes are related to lemurs, lorises, monkeys, apes and man (primates) was proposed by Dr Pettigrew at University of Queensland. This theory is based on studies of the brain and nerves to the eye that show the structure a flying-fox brain is more like that of a primate than a microbat. Dr Pettigrew proposed that the megabats and microbats evolved from different ancestors and that the structure of the wings of these two groups of bats has evolved independently (known as convergent evolution). Diet The majority of flying-foxes feed during the night within a radius of 30 kilometres from their camp, however, when feeding on blossom they may travel up to 100 kilometres. Some flying-foxes feed in the same place on successive nights. The main source of food for flying-foxes is nectar and pollen from the flowers of native trees, such as the many species of eucalyptus, as well as turpentines, paperbarks, and banksias. Pollen is the major source of protein for flying-foxes. Flying-foxes often lick pollen from their fur while grooming.

Flying-foxes also eat fruit from many rainforest plants, such as figs and lilly pilly. They chew the fruit to extract the juice. Flying-foxes swallow fruit juice and some small seeds up to four millimetres in diameter. Nectar and fruit juice provide flying-foxes with carbohydrates and sugars required for energy. At times, flying-foxes chew leaves of plants such as mangroves and figs and can feed on non-native fruit and flowers. Flying-foxes have a very short intestine and absorb their mostly liquid diet very rapidly. The average time from mouth to anus is about 20 minutes although some material takes up to an hour. This is important for seed dispersal because the small seeds contained in the faeces (poo) fall and germinate in new areas leading to new trees and vines. To drink, flying-foxes swoop down to belly-dip in rivers and dams. They then land on trees and lick the water from their belly fur. They also lick dew from leaves. Importance for the ecosystem Flying-foxes are essential in maintaining ecosystems because they can move pollen and seeds over long distances and across cleared ground, linking patches of native vegetation.

The clearing of native vegetation in the last two centuries has removed much vegetation and has left the remainder scattered in isolated patches. Birds and insects often don't fly the long distances required to transfer pollen or seeds between vegetation patches. Flying-foxes carry pollen on their fur between flowering trees that can be many kilometres apart. Many Australian trees, especially eucalypts, need pollen from another tree of the same species to make fertile seed. Rainforest seeds are carried away from parent trees which gives them a chance to germinate and grow. Speed and distance of flight Flying-foxes also use the wind to travel long distances and have been recorded at speeds of 50 kilometres per hour. Radio-tracking of grey-headed flying-foxes found that in 1990, one moved from Grafton to feed on the flowers of spotted gum near Narooma, about 800 kilometres south. Another flew from Lismore to Bundaberg in Queensland, about 400 kilometres to feed on lemon-scented gum. By tracking a few individual flying-foxes by satellite it has been found that individuals travel great distances.

For example, one flying-fox moved from Melbourne to Mallacoota then north along the coast, stopping at Ulladulla and Jamberoo, then to Sydney, where it moved between several more camps. In camps, flying-fox numbers increase and decrease throughout the year, depending on the availability of food. The flowering of many species occurs irregularly in different areas and different times of the year, governed mainly by variations in weather. Tracking information is recorded in: Augee M and Ford D (1999) Radio-tracking Studies of Grey-headed Flying-foxes, Pteropus poliocephalus, from the Gordon Colony, Sydney. Senses Flying-foxes see very well during the day and much better than humans at night. With relatively large eyes in the front of their skull, their acute eye-sight enables them to navigate accurately and to find food at night. Many of their food plants have white blossom making them easy to see when flying above the trees at night. In daylight flying-foxes are also able to fly and land on branches within the camp and use sight during social interactions in bright sunlight. Flying-foxes use their excellent sense of smell to locate nectar and ripe fruit.

They also recognise each other by sight and smell. Flying-foxes have scent glands on their shoulders, and the scent is spread over their body while grooming. Males rub their scent glands onto tree branches in the colony to mark a territory, and mothers recognise their young by their calls and by their smell. Flying-foxes also sniff each other during social interactions. While sight and smell are very important to flying-foxes, evidence suggests hearing is of less importance. Unlike the complex ears of microbats, flying-foxes have a simple external ear. The part of the brain which controls hearing is small in flying-foxes compared to that in microbats. Habitat The area occupied by a population of flying-foxes is called a camp or a colony. A camp may contain a few hundred to tens of thousands of flying-foxes. Flying-foxes move to alternative camps when food is not available nearby. Most of these camps have been in use for more than 100 years. During the day, they roost together in the tops of trees. During the roost, they spend some time sleeping, often hanging by one foot, with their wings wrapped around their body.

Flying-foxes also spend many hours each day grooming, squabbling noisily and fanning themselves. Predators Predators known to eat flying-foxes include: carpet pythons Flying Foxes - info and games Bats of the genus Pteropus, belonging to the Megachiroptera sub-order, are the largest bats in the world. They are commonly known as the Fruit bat, Flying fox or Malayan Flyingfox among other numerous colloquial names. They live in the tropics and subtropics of Australia, Africa and Asia. Bat Behemoth: The largest bat known, the wingspan of the species Pteropus giganteus can measure 180 centimeters (6 feet) across, although it only weighs up to 1.5 kilograms (53 ounces). This makes Pteropus smaller than the largest birds or extinct pterosaurs. The oldest ancestors of Pteropus to be unearthed appear in the fossil record almost exactly as they appear today, the only notable differences being early flight adaptations such as a tail for stabilizing. The oldest megachiropteran is dated at around 35 million years ago but the preceding gap in the fossil record makes their true lineage unknown.

Eat Your Fruits and Vegetables! Characteristically, all species of Flying foxes only feed on nectar, blossom, pollen and fruit, which explains their limited tropical distribution. They do not possess echolocation, a feature which helps the other sub-order of bats, the Microbats, they locate and catch prey like insects in mid-air. Instead, smell and eyesight are very well-developed in flying foxes. Many species are threatened today with extinction, and in particular in the Pacific a number of species have died out as a result of over-harvesting for human consumption. World's Largest Bat - Flying Fox - YouTube World's Largest Bat - Flying Fox Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. The interactive transcript could not be loaded. Loading... Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Published on Jun 12, 2013 This giant monster bat creature is the grey headed flying fox and is the largest bat found in Australia.

This megabat, or fruit bat has a dark grey body, light grey head and reddish brown fur for a collar. Because this bat does not echolocate, it must rely on its large eyes to locate its food of nectar, pollen and fruit. It has an average wingspan up to 3.5 feet and can weigh up to 2.5 lbs. The bat can be found in it's habitat which includes rainforests, woodlands and swamps. During the day you will find them roosting in colonies of hundreds to thousands in a variety of locations including at one time the Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney. Partially migrant depending upon the direction that will be most beneficial at the time, they use winds to travel long distances. During mating season, the neck glands of the males enlarge to mark homes which will be defended aggressively. Females give birth, usually once a year between September and November. The young will cling to their mothers for the first three weeks, but within 6 months are flying on their own and fully weaned. in 1999, Australian federal law classified them as vulnerable to extinction, and their roosts are now protected across the country.

Let's Connect Animal Info - Pohnpei Flying Fox Translate: Animal Info - Pohnpei Flying Fox (Other Names: 加洛林狐蝠, 西太平洋卡洛島狐蝠, カロリンオオコウモリ, Caroline Flying Fox, Pohnpei Fruit Bat, Ponape-Flughund, Renard Volant de Ponape) Pteropus molossinus 5. References Profile The Pohnpei flying fox was common at all elevations on Pohnpei in the 1950's. Large colonies were observed in coastal mangrove forests by an expedition in the 1930's. The Pohnpei flying fox eats fruit and flowers. A colony of about 200 - 300 flying foxes has been observed. However, many individuals and pairs have also been observed, indicating that a significant number may not roost in colonies. The Pohnpei flying fox is known only from Pohnpei Island and the nearby Ant and Pakin Atolls in the Federated States of Micronesia . "Many" of these flying foxes were observed throughout Pohnpei Island in 1976-78.

As of 1989 it appeared that significant declines in the population had occurred. At the best known site on Pohnpei, where a member of the Pohnpei marine resources staff regularly had counted over 1000 flying foxes exiting at dusk in the 1960's, a 1989 survey counted only 15. Conversion of forest to agroforestry and commercial hunting of the flying foxes for shipment to Guam for food are the major threats. Hunting for local use is not a problem, because the native people consider flying foxes to be unacceptable food. Tidbits *** Much of the tropical vegetation on many Pacific islands depends on flying foxes for pollination or seed dispersal. Status and Trends ( IUCN 2004 ). History of Distribution: The Pohnpei flying fox is known only from Pohnpei Island and the nearby Ant and Pakin Atolls in the Federated States of Micronesia . It has also been reported from the nearby Mortlock Islands, but this has not been confirmed.

"Many" of these flying foxes were observed throughout Pohnpei Island in 1976-78, and they were locally common in the northern half of Pohnpei in 1981. As of 1989 it appeared that significant declines in the population had occurred. At the best known site on Pohnpei, where a member of the Pohnpei marine resources staff regularly had counted over 1000 flying foxes exiting at dusk in the 1960's, a 1989 survey counted only 15 . Threats and Reasons for Decline: Conversion of forest to agroforestry and commercial hunting of the flying foxes for shipment to Guam for food are the major threats. Hunting for local use is not a problem, because the native people consider flying foxes to be unacceptable food. Data on Biology and Ecology Habitat: Indian Flying Fox - Woodland Park Zoo Seattle WA Indian Flying Fox Classification and Range Bats belong to the order Chiroptera which aptly means “hand-wing.” More than 1,100 species exist.

The two sub-orders are Megachiroptera or “megabats” and Microchiroptera, the smaller, echolocating and mostly insectivorous bats. Old World fruit bats of Africa, Asia and Australia, commonly called “flying foxes,” make up the single megabat family Pteropodidae. The genus Pteropus contains around 60 species that are found throughout tropical and sub-tropical Asia, Australasia and Pacific islands. The Indian flying fox has a widespread range on the Indian sub-continent that extends from Pakistan to Southeast Asia and China, and south to the Maldive Islands. Pteropus giganteus is also known as the Greater Indian fruit bat. Habitat Indian flying foxes inhabit tropical forests and swamps along coasts and bodies of water. They require large trees capable of holding huge bat colonies. Tree species used include banyan, tamarind and fig. Physical description All bats possess wings with a clawed thumb and four elongated digits between two layers of skin. They have long-toed feet with sharp claws enabling them to roost hanging upside down. Old World fruit bats share common characteristics designed to find and consume their fruit-oriented diets.

A claw on their second finger enhances grasping ability. They have long snouts with excellent sense of smell, long tongues to reach into plants, and dentition for piercing tough rinds and mashing pulp. The large eyes possess excellent night vision and perhaps some color perception to distinguish fruit from foliage. Their ears are simple and small compared to the ears of echolocating bats. Most fruit bats have muted coloration of grays, browns or black with yellowish mantles; however, with its reddish brown fur and pointy ears, Pteropus giganteus truly looks like a flying fox. With wing spans up to 6 feet and weights more than 3 pounds, flying foxes are the largest bat species. While not the biggest fruit bat, Pteropus giganteus does live up to its name in comparison to the smallest, the long-tongued fruit bat with a 12 inch (30 cm) wingspan and weighing only .5 ounces (15 g).

Physical Characteristics Head and body length: average 9 inches (23 cm) Weight range: 1.3 to 3.5 pounds (.6 - 1.6 kg); females average 2 pounds (.9 kg) Wingspan: 3.9 to 4.9 feet (1.2-1.5m) Life Span Average 21 years; Oldest captive lived over 31 years Diet In the wild: Mainly frugivorous. Eats mainly figs, but also variety of fruit including mango, guava, banana, durian, neem and papaya, as well as blossoms and nectar. Raids cultivated fruit crops. At the zoo: Apples, bananas, cooked sweet potato and carrots, mixed greens, vitamin and mineral supplements. Reproduction - Mostly upside down Bat reproduction occurs mostly upside down. Between July and October, Indian flying foxes mate while hanging in the midst of their large colony. A courting male fans his wings toward a female, follows her to grasp the back of the neck, and mates with her. No pair bonds occur and males have no role in parenting.

Between February and May and after a long gestation of 140 to 150 days, the female produces a single pup and rarely twins. To give birth, the female hangs head up thus gravity assists the process. Newborn fruit bats weigh about one-fourth the female’s weight and have fully furred bodies and open eyes. With the infant securely clasped under a wing, the female returns upside down again. Mothers carry infants constantly their first three weeks. Later the young hang by themselves in the home tree, although females carry them to feeding sites. Young bats fly around 11 weeks and they wean by 5 months. Fruit bats become sexually mature at 1 1/2 years of age. Lifestyle: Life in a Social Colony Indian flying foxes reside in the same home or camp tree for years. The colony contains several hundreds even thousands of bats living on nearby trees. The bats erupt into loud chatter when an outsider approaches. Males protect the colony and dominant males claim the choicest resting spots: under dense branches during hottest times; near the top open to the sun when cold; and under branches during heavy rain. Fruit bats spend the daytime sleeping, resting, licking and grooming themselves and each other.

They vocalize and their spread wings to claim territory. At dusk, they fly off together to feed. Their good senses of smell and sight locate ripe fruit sources. Fruit bats use their clawed digits to grasp fruit and they bite off pieces with their sharp teeth. They chew the fruit and crush it against their hard, ridged palates. Then they swallow the juice and spit out small pellets of pulp and seeds. Large flying foxes consume up to half their body weight daily. After hours spent feeding, resting and digesting, they return to the camp tree at dawn. Life on the Wing Bats are the only mammals capable of powered flight which requires both lightness and strength. The wing membrane stretched across the elongated finger digits is so thin that light can be seen though it. Bats have very light bones compared to other mammals. Flight muscles attach to shoulder blades and the breastbone. In contrast to the powerful upper body, most fruit bats lack weight bearing hind limbs for locomotion or even standing. At best, flying foxes crawl on the ground. With lighter and weaker rear quarters, bats hang upside down. Tendons in the hind legs lock claws onto surfaces without any effort. To launch into flight, they merely release their grip.

Flying foxes travel long distances in search of food sources. Nightly flights over 9 miles (15 km) are common; however, they may be up to 40 miles (64 km). To land, they slow to a stall or crash into foliage then grasp branches. Any damage to wing membranes and even broken bones heal quickly. Bats also use their wings for warmth and for fanning when too hot. Life at Night Most bats live a nocturnal lifestyle and spend the daylight hours in roosts. Since vast hordes of insects fly at night, the echolocating bats hunt with less competition. For fruit bats living in the tropics and sub-tropics, nighttime has other advantages. Long distance flights generate body heat, and cooler night temperatures help dissipate it. Flying during the heat of daytime could result in heat prostration or dehydration. Increased nighttime moisture enhances elasticity of the wing membrane. Night flight means fewer predators, yet another advantage. Fruit bats and “bat-adapted” plants aid each other. Flying foxes pollinate and disperse seeds of many tropical plants.

To attract these visual and scent-oriented nocturnal feeders, some plants evolved large white flowers, strong aromas, or large quantities of nectar and pollen. Bats in Culture - Myths and Practices In Western culture, bats often evoke fear and superstition. Many negative myths exist, such as being “as blind as a bat” and bats as dirty, blood-sucking, rabies transmitters. All bats can see - megabats have excellent sight and microbats rely on hearing and echolocation over vision. Bats keep themselves fastidiously clean with licking and grooming. Only three New World species of vampire bats consume blood and by licking not sucking. Both people and animals can contract rabies from bats, mostly from vampire bats, but the disease is more common in other wildlife species. For centuries and in many Asian cultures, people hunt fruit bats as a meat source. Some traditional practices use bat meat or fat to treat medical conditions, such as rheumatism. Farmers may kill fruit bats as crop raiding pests. In China, the bat receives acceptance as a symbol of happiness and good luck. In some Indian villages, the Indian flying fox is sacred and protected from harm.

Location at the Zoo Our Indian flying foxes are located in the Trail of Adaptations. Other nocturnal animals exhibited there include two-toed sloth and tamandua, an anteater. Conservation Connection Indian flying foxes have a “Least Concern” listing in CITES Appendix II. They exist in large numbers within an expansive range that includes protected areas. Nonetheless, fruit bats face declining numbers. Humans constitute their major predators along with raptors and snakes. Some governments classify them as “vermin” and allow extermination. Evidence points to flying foxes as hosts for some zoonotic diseases, such as Hendra and Nipah viruses which affect both humans and domestic animals. In India, The Wildlife Protection Act still considers all flying foxes as pests without distinction between the ten species which feed in forests and the three which raid cultivated orchards. Deforestation and cutting down huge roost trees create further problems for fruit bats. Worldwide, over half of all bat species fall within threatened or near-threatened categories and face serious population decline. In the eastern U.S. over 5.5 million bats died from “white-nose syndrome” since 2008.

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) proclaimed 2011-2012 as Year of the Bat to coincide with the United Nations Year of Forests. Leading roles come from the Bat Specialist Group, Species Survival Commission of IUCN and the Organization of Bat Conservation. Year of the Bat promotes conservation, research and education. Flying foxes are a keystone species in the world’s tropical rainforests. They pollinate and disperse seeds of many tropical plants, for example kapok, durian, mango and banana. People collect bat guano, an excellent fertilizer. Microbats provide pest control in their nightly consumption of insects by the tons. Many ecological benefits come from bats. Sources and Suggested Reading “Bat Facts” Encyclopedia Smithsonian. Bat Specialist Group website. “Bats” The Encyclopedia of Mammals. edited by Dr David Macdonald. pp 500-503. 1999 Marimuthu, G. “The Sacred Flying Fox of India” Bats Magazine. “More on Year of the Bat 2011-2012” Organization of Bat Conservation website.

“White-Nose Syndrome (WNS)” National Wildlife Health Center Media Secret World of Bats - DVD 48 minute film originally shown on CBS with Bat Conservation International founder Merlin Tuttle and captures all aspects of bat behavior For Kids! Bats: Myth and Reality (1985) 16 minute video for grades 2-12 produced by Bat Conservation International emphasizing the ecological importance and conservation needs of bats worldwide. Bats of America (1989) 16 minute video for grades 1-6 produced by Bat Conservation International offers an in-depth look at bats, their importance to ecosystems and their threats. Discover Bats! (revised & updated 2009) Bat-education package produced by Bat Conservation International for grades 4-8. Stellaluna by Janell Cannon. A children’s book about a young fruit bat. Indian Flying Fox Taxonomy

Question: By what other name is the Flying Fox known?
Answer: The FRUIT Bat.