Indian Flying Fox

Description:

The ‘Indian flying fox’, also known as the ‘Greater Indian fruit bat’, is a species of flying fox in the Pteropodidae family. Their delicate, pointy ears, long, thin nose, lush brown-red coat and soulful black eyes have a distinctive appeal that easily resembles the fox they are named after. The 'Indian flying fox' has a broad wingspan of up to 130 cm from tip to tip and can weigh as much as 2 kilograms (4.4 pounds). It is nocturnal and feeds mainly on ripe fruits, such as mangoes and bananas, and nectar. A single young is born between April to early June. It travels long distances, up to 150 km to and from its roost, at night in search of fleshy berries. Colonies usually have a permanent roost with one or two temporary roosts that individuals shift to depending on season and other unknown factors. This species roosts in large colonies of hundreds to thousands of individuals on large trees such as banyan, fig and tamarind, close to agricultural fields, streams and ponds.

Habitat:

Tamarind trees that were very close to the stream. Village, countryside.

Notes:

Pteropus giganteus is frugivorous. An individual of the genus Pteropus squeezes out fruit juices from the pulp against the roof of its mouth, and then discards the dry material. Some Pteropus species also supplement their dietary protein by eating insects. Others, including P. giganteus, eat the blossoms and nectar of fruiting plants. Communication among individuals of this species is vocal. They chatter and squawk when threatened. Typical of megachiropterans, P. giganteus does not echolocate, and relies on sight rather than hearing for navigation. Because of their use of vision, there is probably communication involving body postures and positioning. Tactile communication is important during mating, as well as between mothers and their offspring. The longest lifespan of this species in captivity was recorded as 31-40 years. Little information is available regarding life expectancy in the wild.