Megabat
Encyclopedia
Megabats constitute the suborder Megachiroptera, family Pteropodidae of the order
Chiroptera (bat
s). They are also called fruit bats, old world fruit bats, or flying foxes.
The megabat, contrary to its name, is not always large: the smallest species
is 6 centimetres (2.4 in) long and thus smaller than some microbat
s. The largest reach 40 centimetres (15.7 in) in length and attain a wingspan
of 150 centimetres (4.9 ft), weighing in at nearly 1 kilograms (2.2 lb). Most fruit bats have large eye
s, allowing them to orient visually in the twilight
of dusk and inside cave
s and forest
s.
Their sense of smell is excellent. In contrast to the microbats, the fruit bats do not use echolocation
(with one exception, the Egyptian fruit bat
Rousettus egyptiacus, which uses high-pitched clicks to navigate in caves).
or nectarivorous
, i.e., they eat fruit
s or lick nectar
from flower
s. Often the fruits are crushed and only the juices consumed. The teeth
are adapted to bite through hard fruit skins. Large fruit bats must land in order to eat fruit, while the smaller species are able to hover with flapping wings in front of a flower or fruit.
Frugivorous bats aid the distribution of plants (and therefore, forests) by carrying the fruits with them and spitting the seed
s or eliminating
them elsewhere. Nectarivores actually pollinate
visited plants. They bear long tongue
s that are inserted deep into the flower; pollen
thereby passed to the bat is then transported to the next blossom visited, pollinating it. This relationship between plants and bats is a form of mutualism known as chiropterophily. Examples of plants that benefit from this arrangement include the baobab
s of the genus Adansonia and the sausage tree
(Kigelia).
Bat
s are usually thought to belong to one of two monophyletic groups, a view that is reflected in their classification into two suborders (Megachiroptera and Microchiroptera). According to this hypothesis, all living megabats and microbats are descendants of a common ancestor species that was already capable of flight.
However, there have been other views, and a vigorous debate persists to this date. For example, in the 1980s and 1990s, some researchers proposed (based primarily on the similarity of the visual pathways) that the Megachiroptera were in fact more closely affiliated with the primates than the Microchiroptera, with the two groups of bats having therefore evolved flight via convergence
(see Flying primates theory
). However, a recent flurry of genetic
studies confirms the more longstanding notion that all bats are indeed members of the same clade
, the Chiroptera. Other studies have recently suggested that certain families of microbats (possibly the horseshoe bats, mouse-tailed bats
and the false vampires
) are evolution
arily closer to the fruit bats than to other microbats.
, represented by 44 - 46 genera
:
FAMILY PTEROPODIDAE
for a number of diseases which can prove fatal to humans and domestic animals such as horses. The bats themselves sometimes have no signs of infection.
Researchers tested fruit bats for the presence of the Ebola
virus between 2001 and 2003. Three species
of bats tested positive for Ebola
, but had no symptoms of the virus. This indicates that the bats may be acting as a reservoir for the virus. Of the infected animals identified during these field collections, immunoglobulin G (IgG) specific for Ebola virus was detected in Hypsignathus monstrosus, Epomops franqueti, and Myonycteris torquata.
The epidemical Marburg virus
was found in 2007 in specimens of the Egyptian fruit bat
, confirming the suspicion that this species may be a reservoir for this dangerous virus.
Fruit bats are considered a delicacy by South Pacific Islanders
, where consumption has been suggested as a possible cause of Lytico-Bodig disease
.
Other diseases which can be carried by fruit bats include Australian bat lyssavirus
and Henipavirus
(notably Hendra virus and Nipah virus), both of which can prove fatal to humans.
Order (biology)
In scientific classification used in biology, the order is# a taxonomic rank used in the classification of organisms. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, family, genus, and species, with order fitting in between class and family...
Chiroptera (bat
Bat
Bats are mammals of the order Chiroptera "hand" and pteron "wing") whose forelimbs form webbed wings, making them the only mammals naturally capable of true and sustained flight. By contrast, other mammals said to fly, such as flying squirrels, gliding possums, and colugos, glide rather than fly,...
s). They are also called fruit bats, old world fruit bats, or flying foxes.
Description
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
is 6 centimetres (2.4 in) long and thus smaller than some microbat
Microbat
The microbats constitute the suborder Microchiroptera within the order Chiroptera . They are most often referred to by their scientific name...
s. The largest reach 40 centimetres (15.7 in) in length and attain a wingspan
Wingspan
The wingspan of an airplane or a bird, is the distance from one wingtip to the other wingtip. For example, the Boeing 777 has a wingspan of about ; and a Wandering Albatross caught in 1965 had a wingspan of , the official record for a living bird.The term wingspan, more technically extent, is...
of 150 centimetres (4.9 ft), weighing in at nearly 1 kilograms (2.2 lb). Most fruit bats have large eye
Eye
Eyes are organs that detect light and convert it into electro-chemical impulses in neurons. The simplest photoreceptors in conscious vision connect light to movement...
s, allowing them to orient visually in the twilight
Twilight
Twilight is the time between dawn and sunrise or between sunset and dusk, during which sunlight scattering in the upper atmosphere illuminates the lower atmosphere, and the surface of the earth is neither completely lit nor completely dark. The sun itself is not directly visible because it is below...
of dusk and inside cave
Cave
A cave or cavern is a natural underground space large enough for a human to enter. The term applies to natural cavities some part of which is in total darkness. The word cave also includes smaller spaces like rock shelters, sea caves, and grottos.Speleology is the science of exploration and study...
s and forest
Forest
A forest, also referred to as a wood or the woods, is an area with a high density of trees. As with cities, depending where you are in the world, what is considered a forest may vary significantly in size and have various classification according to how and what of the forest is composed...
s.
Their sense of smell is excellent. In contrast to the microbats, the fruit bats do not use echolocation
Animal echolocation
Echolocation, also called biosonar, is the biological sonar used by several kinds of animals.Echolocating animals emit calls out to the environment and listen to the echoes of those calls that return from various objects near them. They use these echoes to locate and identify the objects...
(with one exception, the Egyptian fruit bat
Egyptian fruit bat
The Egyptian Fruit Bat or Egyptian Rousette is a species of Old World fruit bat found throughout Africa, except in the desert regions of the Sahara, and throughout the Middle East, as far east as Pakistan and northern India...
Rousettus egyptiacus, which uses high-pitched clicks to navigate in caves).
Behaviour and ecology
Megabats are frugivorousFrugivore
A frugivore is a fruit eater. It can be any type of herbivore or omnivore where fruit is a preferred food type. Because approximately 20% of all mammalian herbivores also eat fruit, frugivory is considered to be common among mammals. Since frugivores eat a lot of fruit they are highly dependent...
or nectarivorous
Nectarivore
In zoology, nectarivore is an animal which eats the sugar-rich nectar produced by flowering plants. Most nectarivores are insects or birds, but there are also nectarivorous mammals, notably several species of bats in the Southwestern United States and Mexico, as well as the Australian Honey Possum...
, i.e., they eat fruit
Fruit
In broad terms, a fruit is a structure of a plant that contains its seeds.The term has different meanings dependent on context. In non-technical usage, such as food preparation, fruit normally means the fleshy seed-associated structures of certain plants that are sweet and edible in the raw state,...
s or lick nectar
Nectar (plant)
Nectar is a sugar-rich liquid produced by plants. It is produced in glands called nectaries, either within the flowers, in which it attracts pollinating animals, or by extrafloral nectaries, which provide a nutrient source to animal mutualists, which in turn provide anti-herbivore protection...
from flower
Flower
A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants . The biological function of a flower is to effect reproduction, usually by providing a mechanism for the union of sperm with eggs...
s. Often the fruits are crushed and only the juices consumed. The teeth
Tooth
Teeth are small, calcified, whitish structures found in the jaws of many vertebrates that are used to break down food. Some animals, particularly carnivores, also use teeth for hunting or for defensive purposes. The roots of teeth are embedded in the Mandible bone or the Maxillary bone and are...
are adapted to bite through hard fruit skins. Large fruit bats must land in order to eat fruit, while the smaller species are able to hover with flapping wings in front of a flower or fruit.
Frugivorous bats aid the distribution of plants (and therefore, forests) by carrying the fruits with them and spitting the seed
Seed
A seed is a small embryonic plant enclosed in a covering called the seed coat, usually with some stored food. It is the product of the ripened ovule of gymnosperm and angiosperm plants which occurs after fertilization and some growth within the mother plant...
s or eliminating
Elimination
- Science and medicine :*Elimination reaction, an organic reaction in which two functional groups split to form an organic product*Elimination, clearance of a drug or other foreign agent from the body...
them elsewhere. Nectarivores actually pollinate
Pollination
Pollination is the process by which pollen is transferred in plants, thereby enabling fertilisation and sexual reproduction. Pollen grains transport the male gametes to where the female gamete are contained within the carpel; in gymnosperms the pollen is directly applied to the ovule itself...
visited plants. They bear long tongue
Tongue
The tongue is a muscular hydrostat on the floors of the mouths of most vertebrates which manipulates food for mastication. It is the primary organ of taste , as much of the upper surface of the tongue is covered in papillae and taste buds. It is sensitive and kept moist by saliva, and is richly...
s that are inserted deep into the flower; pollen
Pollen
Pollen is a fine to coarse powder containing the microgametophytes of seed plants, which produce the male gametes . Pollen grains have a hard coat that protects the sperm cells during the process of their movement from the stamens to the pistil of flowering plants or from the male cone to the...
thereby passed to the bat is then transported to the next blossom visited, pollinating it. This relationship between plants and bats is a form of mutualism known as chiropterophily. Examples of plants that benefit from this arrangement include the baobab
Baobab
Adansonia is a genus of eight species of tree, six native to Madagascar, one native to mainland Africa and the Arabian Peninsula and one to Australia. The mainland African species also occurs on Madagascar, but it is not a native of that island....
s of the genus Adansonia and the sausage tree
Kigelia
Kigelia is a genus of flowering plants in the family Bignoniaceae. The genus comprises only one species, Kigelia africana, which occurs throughout tropical Africa from Eritrea and Chad south to northern South Africa, and west to Senegal and Namibia.-Etymology:The genus name comes from the...
(Kigelia).
Classification
Bat
Bats are mammals of the order Chiroptera "hand" and pteron "wing") whose forelimbs form webbed wings, making them the only mammals naturally capable of true and sustained flight. By contrast, other mammals said to fly, such as flying squirrels, gliding possums, and colugos, glide rather than fly,...
s are usually thought to belong to one of two monophyletic groups, a view that is reflected in their classification into two suborders (Megachiroptera and Microchiroptera). According to this hypothesis, all living megabats and microbats are descendants of a common ancestor species that was already capable of flight.
However, there have been other views, and a vigorous debate persists to this date. For example, in the 1980s and 1990s, some researchers proposed (based primarily on the similarity of the visual pathways) that the Megachiroptera were in fact more closely affiliated with the primates than the Microchiroptera, with the two groups of bats having therefore evolved flight via convergence
Convergent evolution
Convergent evolution describes the acquisition of the same biological trait in unrelated lineages.The wing is a classic example of convergent evolution in action. Although their last common ancestor did not have wings, both birds and bats do, and are capable of powered flight. The wings are...
(see Flying primates theory
Flying primates theory
The flying primates theory conjectures that megabats, a sub-group of Chiroptera , form an evolutionary sister group of Primates. This theory started with Carl Linnaeus, and was again advanced by J.D Smith in 1980...
). However, a recent flurry of genetic
Genetics
Genetics , a discipline of biology, is the science of genes, heredity, and variation in living organisms....
studies confirms the more longstanding notion that all bats are indeed members of the same clade
Cladistics
Cladistics is a method of classifying species of organisms into groups called clades, which consist of an ancestor organism and all its descendants . For example, birds, dinosaurs, crocodiles, and all descendants of their most recent common ancestor form a clade...
, the Chiroptera. Other studies have recently suggested that certain families of microbats (possibly the horseshoe bats, mouse-tailed bats
Rhinopomatidae
Mouse-tailed bats are a group of insectivorous bats of the family Rhinopomatidae with only three to five species, all contained in the single genus Rhinopoma. They are found in the Old World, from North Africa to Thailand and Sumatra, in arid and semi-arid regions, roosting in caves, houses and...
and the false vampires
Megadermatidae
Megadermatidae, or False Vampire Bats, are a family of bats found from central Africa, eastwards through southern Asia, and into Australia. They are relatively large bats, ranging from 6.5 cm to 14 cm in head-body length. They have large eyes, very large ears and a prominent nose-leaf. They have a...
) are evolution
Evolution
Evolution is any change across successive generations in the heritable characteristics of biological populations. Evolutionary processes give rise to diversity at every level of biological organisation, including species, individual organisms and molecules such as DNA and proteins.Life on Earth...
arily closer to the fruit bats than to other microbats.
List of species
The family Pteropodidae is divided into seven subfamilies with 186 total extant speciesSpecies
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
, represented by 44 - 46 genera
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
:
FAMILY PTEROPODIDAE
- Subfamily Nyctimeninae
- Genus NyctimeneNyctimene (genus)Nyctimene is a genus of megabats in the Pteropodidae family. They are distributed in the central Philippines, eastern Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and the north eastern tip of Queensland, Australia.It contains these species:Genus Nyctimene...
- tube-nosed fruit bats- Broad-striped Tube-nosed Fruit BatBroad-striped Tube-nosed Fruit BatThe Broad-striped Tube-nosed Fruit Bat is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. It is found in West Papua, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.-Source:* Chiroptera Specialist Group 1996. . Downloaded on 30 July 2007....
, Nyctimene aello - Common Tube-nosed Fruit BatCommon Tube-nosed Fruit BatThe Common Tube-nosed Fruit Bat is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. It is found in Australia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands.-References:...
, Nyctimene albiventer - Pallas's Tube-nosed Fruit BatPallas's Tube-nosed Fruit BatThe Pallas's Tube-nosed Bat, Torresian Tube-nosed Bat or Northern Tube-nosed Bat , is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. It is found in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.-References:...
, Nyctimene cephalotes - Dark Tube-nosed Fruit BatDark Tube-nosed Fruit BatThe Dark Tube-nosed Fruit Bat is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. It is endemic to Indonesia.-Source:* Chiroptera Specialist Group 1996. . Downloaded on 30 July 2007....
, Nyctimene celaeno - Mountain Tube-nosed Fruit BatMountain Tube-nosed Fruit BatThe Mountain Tube-nosed Fruit Bat is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. It is found in West Papua, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.-Source:* Chiroptera Specialist Group 1996. . Downloaded on 30 July 2007....
, Nyctimene certans - Round-eared Tube-nosed Fruit BatRound-eared Tube-nosed Fruit BatThe Round-eared Tube-nosed Fruit Bat is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. It is found in West Papua, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.-Source:* Chiroptera Specialist Group 1996. . Downloaded on 30 July 2007....
, Nyctimene cyclotis - Dragon Tube-nosed Fruit BatDragon Tube-nosed Fruit BatThe Dragon Tube-nosed Fruit Bat is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. It is found in West Papua, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. In other words it is endemic to the Island of New Guinea. It is a monotypic species and is slightly smaller and very similar in appearance to N...
, Nyctimene draconilla - Keast's Tube-nosed Fruit BatKeast's Tube-nosed Fruit BatThe Keast's Tube-nosed Fruit Bat is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family found in Babar, Tanimbar, and the Kai Islands.-References:...
, Nyctimene keasti - Island Tube-nosed Fruit BatIsland Tube-nosed Fruit BatThe Island Tube-nosed Fruit Bat is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. It is found in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands....
, Nyctimene major - Malaita Tube-nosed Fruit BatMalaita Tube-nosed Fruit BatThe Malaita Tube-nosed Fruit Bat is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. It is endemic to the Solomon Islands.-Source:* Chiroptera Specialist Group 1996. . Downloaded on 30 July 2007....
, Nyctimene malaitensis - Demonic Tube-nosed Fruit BatDemonic Tube-nosed Fruit BatThe Demonic Tube-nosed Fruit Bat is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. It is endemic to Papua New Guinea.-Source:* Chiroptera Specialist Group 1996. . Downloaded on 30 July 2007....
, Nyctimene masalai - Lesser Tube-nosed BatLesser Tube-nosed BatThe Lesser Tube-nosed Bat is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. It is endemic to the mountainous forests of two Indonesian islands, Buru and Seram, including the Manusela National Park on Seram, but is not found on the nearby Ambon Island. The habitat has an area of less than 2,000...
, Nyctimene minutus - Philippine Tube-nosed Fruit BatPhilippine Tube-nosed Fruit BatThe Philippine Tube-nosed Fruit Bat is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. It is endemic to the Philippines. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.-Source:...
, Nyctimene rabori - Eastern Tube-nosed Bat, Nyctimene robinsoni
- Nendo Tube-nosed Fruit BatNendo Tube-nosed Fruit BatThe Nendo or Santa Cruz Tube-nosed Fruit Bat is an extinct megabat from the Santa Cruz Group of the Solomon Islands, near the eastern limit of the distribution of tube-nosed fruit bats. It had tube-like nostrils and had a wingspan of about 40 cm.The last record was from the island of Nendo in 1907...
, Nyctimene sanctacrucis (early 20th century †) - Umboi Tube-nosed Fruit BatUmboi Tube-nosed Fruit BatThe Umboi Tube-nosed Fruit Bat is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. It is found in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands.-References:* Chiroptera Specialist Group 1996. . Downloaded on 30 July 2007....
, Nyctimene vizcaccia
- Broad-striped Tube-nosed Fruit Bat
- Genus Paranyctimene
- Lesser Tube-nosed Fruit BatLesser Tube-nosed Fruit BatThe Lesser Tube-nosed Fruit Bat or Unstriped Tube-nosed Bat is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. It is found in West Papua, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.-Source:...
, Paranyctimene raptor - Steadfast Tube-nosed Fruit BatSteadfast Tube-nosed Fruit BatThe Steadfast Tube-nosed Fruit Bat is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. It is found in West Papua, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.-Footnotes:* "Mammals described from the Papuan region between 1995 and 2010."...
, Paranyctimene tenax
- Lesser Tube-nosed Fruit Bat
- Genus Nyctimene
- Subfamily Cynopterinae
- Genus AethalopsAethalopsThe Pygmy Fruit Bat , also known as the Grey Fruit Bat, is a species of megabat.-Distribution:Three specimens were collected in April 1995 from Bario highlands in Sarawak. A. alecto is confined to montane forest above 1000 m from Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra and Java...
- pygmy fruit bats- Borneo Fruit Bat, Aethalops aequalis
- Pygmy Fruit Bat, Aethalops alecto
- Genus Alionycteris
- Mindanao Pygmy Fruit BatMindanao Pygmy Fruit BatThe Mindanao Pygmy Fruit Bat is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. It is monotypic within the genus Alionycteris. It is endemic to the Philippines. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry forests. It is threatened by habitat loss....
, Alionycteris paucidentata
- Mindanao Pygmy Fruit Bat
- Genus Balionycteris
- Spotted-winged Fruit Bat, Balionycteris maculata
- Genus ChironaxChironaxThe Black-capped Fruit Bat is a species of megabat in the monotypic genus Chironax.-Distribution:Seven specimens of C. melanocephalus were collected from the lowland forest at Kubah and Lambir, and beach forest at Samunsam, Sarawak, Borneo...
- Black-capped Fruit Bat, Chironax melanocephalus
- Genus CynopterusCynopterusCynopterus is a genus of megabats. The Cynopterine section is represented by 11 genera, five of which occur in Malaysia, namely, Chironx, Balionycteris, Penthetor, Dyacopterus and Cynopterus...
- dog-faced fruit bats or short-nosed fruit bats- Lesser Short-nosed Fruit BatLesser Short-nosed Fruit BatThe Lesser Short-nosed Fruit Bat is a species of megabat within the Pteropodidae family. It is a small bat that lives in South and Southeast Asia and Indonesia which weighs between that occurs in most habitats including lower montane forest, tropical lowland rainforest, gardens, mangroves, and...
, Cynopterus brachyotis - Horsfield’s Fruit Bat, Cynopterus horsfieldii
- Peters’s Fruit BatPeters’s Fruit BatPeters’s Fruit Bat is a species of megabat within the Pteropodidae family.It is found in Sulawesi, Philippines, and adjacent small islands.-References:...
, Cynopterus luzoniensis - Minute Fruit BatMinute Fruit BatThe Minute Fruit Bat is a species of megabat within the Pteropodidae family. It is found in Sumatra, Java, Borneo and Sulawesi.-References:...
, Cynopterus minutus - Nusatenggara Short-nosed Fruit BatNusatenggara Short-nosed Fruit BatThe Nusatenggara Short-nosed Fruit Bat is a species of megabat within the Pteropodidae family found in Indonesia. It has 3 subspecies:*Cynopterus nusatenggara nusatenggara*Cynopterus nusatenggara sinagai...
, Cynopterus nusatenggara - Greater Short-nosed Fruit BatGreater Short-nosed Fruit BatThe Greater Short-nosed Fruit Bat or Short-nosed Indian Fruit Bat is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. It is found in South and Southeast Asia.-Description:...
, Cynopterus sphinx - Indonesian Short-nosed Fruit BatIndonesian Short-nosed Fruit BatThe Indonesian Short-nosed Fruit Bat is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. It is endemic to Indonesia, and has 3 subspecies:*Cynopterus titthaecheilus titthaecheilus*Cynopterus titthaecheilus major...
, Cynopterus titthaecheilus
- Lesser Short-nosed Fruit Bat
- Genus DyacopterusDyacopterusDyacopterus is a genus of megabats from south-east Asia. It contains three species, namely:Genus Dyacopterus*Dayak Fruit Bat, Dyacopterus spadiceus*Brooks’s Dyak Fruit Bat, Dyacopterus brooksi...
- Dayak fruit bats- Brooks’s Dyak Fruit BatBrooks’s Dyak Fruit BatThe Brooks’s Dyak Fruit Bat is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family found in Sumatra. It was formerly included as a subspecies of Dyacopterus spadiceus.-References:...
, Dyacopterus brooksi - Rickart's Dyak Fruit BatRickart's Dyak Fruit BatThe Rickart's dyak fruit bat is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family found in Luzon and Mindanao islands, in the Philippines.-References:* Mammals Planet website: Species Sheet....
, Dyacopterus rickarti - Dayak Fruit BatDayak Fruit BatThe Dayak fruit bat or Dyak fruit bat is a relatively rare frugivorous megabat species found only on the Sunda Shelf of southeast Asia, specifically the Malay Peninsula south of the Isthmus of Kra, and the islands of Borneo and Sumatra. There are three species in the genus Dyacopterus: D....
, Dyacopterus spadiceus
- Brooks’s Dyak Fruit Bat
- Genus Haplonycteris
- Fischer's Pygmy Fruit BatFischer's Pygmy Fruit BatThe Fischer's Pygmy Fruit Bat or Philippine Pygmy Fruit Bat is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. It is monotypic within the genus Haplonycteris. It is endemic to the Philippines. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry forests. It is threatened by habitat...
, Haplonycteris fischeri
- Fischer's Pygmy Fruit Bat
- Genus LatidensLatidensSalim Ali's fruit bat is a rare megabat species in the monotypic genus Latidens.It was first collected by Angus Hutton, a planter and naturalist in the High Wavy Mountains in the western ghats of Theni district, Tamilnadu in South India in 1948.It was originally misidentified as a short-nosed...
- Salim Ali's Fruit Bat, Latidens salimalii
- Genus MegaeropsMegaeropsMegaerops is a genus of megabat.It includes the species*Tailess fruit bat, Megaerops ecaudatus*Javan Tailless Fruit Bat, Megaerops kusnotoi*Ratanaworabhan's Fruit Bat, Megaerops niphanae*White-collared fruit bat, Megaerops wetmorei...
- Tailess Fruit Bat, Megaerops ecaudatus
- Javan Tailless Fruit BatJavan Tailless Fruit BatThe Javan Tailless Fruit Bat is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. It is endemic to Indonesia.-Source:* Chiroptera Specialist Group 1996. . Downloaded on 30 July 2007....
, Megaerops kusnotoi - Ratanaworabhan's Fruit BatRatanaworabhan's Fruit BatThe Ratanaworabhan's Fruit Bat is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. It is found in India, Thailand, and Vietnam.-References:* Chiroptera Specialist Group 1996. . Downloaded on 30 July 2007....
, Megaerops niphanae - White-collared Fruit Bat, Megaerops wetmorei
- Genus Otopteropus
- Luzon Fruit BatLuzon Fruit BatThe Luzon Fruit Bat is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. It is monotypic within the genus Otopteropus. It is endemic to the Philippines. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.-Source:* Chiroptera Specialist Group 1996. . ...
, Otopteropus cartilagonodus
- Luzon Fruit Bat
- Genus PenthetorPenthetorThe Dusky Fruit Bat , the only member of the genus Penthetor, a genus of megabat.-Distribution:This species was recorded from six localities, Balui , Tanjung Datu , Gunung Gading , Kubah , Lambir and Samunsam , all from Borneo...
- Dusky Fruit Bat, Penthetor lucasi
- Genus PtenochirusPtenochirusPtenochirus is a genus of bat in the Pteropodidae family.It contains the following species:Genus Ptenochirus* Greater Musky Fruit Bat, Ptenochirus jagori* Lesser Musky Fruit Bat, Ptenochirus minor...
- musky fruit bats- Greater Musky Fruit BatGreater Musky Fruit BatThe Greater Musky Fruit Bat is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. It is endemic to the Philippines.-References:* Chiroptera Specialist Group 1996. . Downloaded on 30 July 2007.-External links:*...
, Ptenochirus jagori - Lesser Musky Fruit BatLesser Musky Fruit BatThe Lesser Musky Fruit Bat is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. It is endemic to the Philippines.-References:* Chiroptera Specialist Group 1996. . Downloaded on 30 July 2007....
, Ptenochirus minor
- Greater Musky Fruit Bat
- Genus Sphaerias
- Blanford's Fruit BatBlanford's Fruit BatBlanford's Fruit Bat is a mountain species of megabat. The only recording of it was from the Doi Suthep-Pui National Park in Chiengmai, Thailand. According to Lekagul and McNeely , the species is confined to the Thai-Burmese border, Uttar Pradesh in India and eastern Nepal.-Biology and ecology:A...
, Sphaerias blanfordi
- Blanford's Fruit Bat
- Genus Thoopterus
- Swift Fruit BatSwift Fruit BatThe Swift Fruit Bat is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. It is the only described species within the genus Thoopterus, but it is likely that more than one species exists. Thoopterus is found in Indonesia on Sulawesi and neighboring islands.-Literature cited:*Ruedas, L. 2008. . In...
, Thoopterus nigrescens
- Swift Fruit Bat
- Genus Aethalops
- Subfamily Harpiyonycterinae
- Genus Aproteles
- Bulmer's Fruit BatBulmer's fruit batBulmer's fruit bat is an megabat endemic to New Guinea. It is listed as a critically endangered species due to habitat loss and hunting. It is the only member of the genus Aproteles.-Profile:...
, Aproteles bulmerae
- Bulmer's Fruit Bat
- Genus DobsoniaDobsoniaDobsonia is a genus of megabat in the Pteropodidae family.It contains the following 13 species :Genus Dobsonia* Andersen's Naked-backed Fruit Bat, Dobsonia anderseni* Beaufort's Naked-backed Fruit Bat, Dobsonia beauforti...
- bare-backed fruit bats- Andersen's Bare-backed Fruit Bat, Dobsonia anderseni
- Beaufort's Naked-backed Fruit BatBeaufort's Naked-backed Fruit BatThe Beaufort's Naked-backed Fruit Bat is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. It is endemic to Indonesia. Its natural habitat is in caves.-Source:* Chiroptera Specialist Group 1996. . Downloaded on 30 July 2007....
, Dobsonia beauforti - Philippine Bare-backed Fruit BatPhilippine bare-backed fruit batThe Philippine Naked-backed Fruit Bat or Philippine bare-backed fruit bat is a megabat that lives on Negros Island and Cebu Island in the Philippines. Like other bare-backed fruit bats, its wings meet along the midline of their bodies, making it a very agile flier. It roosted in caves, in areas...
, Dobsonia chapmani - Halmahera Naked-backed Fruit BatHalmahera Naked-backed Fruit BatThe Halmahera Naked-backed Fruit Bat is a common and widespread species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. It is endemic to Indonesia....
, Dobsonia crenulata - Biak Naked-backed Fruit BatBiak Naked-backed Fruit BatThe Biak Naked-backed Fruit Bat is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. It is endemic to Indonesia.-References:* Chiroptera Specialist Group 1996. . Downloaded on 30 July 2007....
, Dobsonia emersa - Sulawesi Naked-backed Fruit BatSulawesi Naked-backed Fruit BatThe Sulawesi Naked-backed Fruit Bat is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. It is endemic to Indonesia.-Source:* Chiroptera Specialist Group 1996. . Downloaded on 30 July 2007....
, Dobsonia exoleta - Solomon's Naked-backed Fruit BatSolomon's Naked-backed Fruit BatThe Solomon's Naked-backed Fruit Bat is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. It is endemic to the Solomon Islands.-References:* Chiroptera Specialist Group 1996. . Downloaded on 30 July 2007....
, Dobsonia inermis - Lesser Naked-backed Fruit BatLesser Naked-backed Fruit BatThe Lesser Naked-backed Fruit Bat is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. It is found in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.-Source:* Chiroptera Specialist Group 1996. . Downloaded on 30 July 2007....
, Dobsonia minor - Moluccan Naked-backed Fruit BatMoluccan Naked-backed Fruit BatThe Moluccan Naked-backed Fruit Bat is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. It is found in Australia, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea.-References:* Chiroptera Specialist Group 1996. . Downloaded on 30 July 2007....
, Dobsonia moluccensis - Panniet Naked-backed Fruit BatPanniet Naked-backed Fruit BatThe Panniet Naked-backed Fruit Bat is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. It is endemic to Papua New Guinea.-References:* Chiroptera Specialist Group 1996. . Downloaded on 30 July 2007....
, Dobsonia pannietensis - Western Naked-backed Fruit BatWestern Naked-backed Fruit BatThe Western Naked-backed Fruit Bat is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. It is endemic to Indonesia. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.-Source:...
, Dobsonia peroni - New Britain Naked-backed Fruit BatNew Britain Naked-backed Fruit BatThe New Britain Naked-backed Fruit Bat is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. It is endemic to Papua New Guinea.-Source:* Chiroptera Specialist Group 1996. . Downloaded on 30 July 2007....
, Dobsonia praedatrix - Greenish Naked-backed Fruit BatGreenish Naked-backed Fruit BatThe Greenish Naked-backed Fruit Bat is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. It is endemic to Indonesia.-References:* Chiroptera Specialist Group 1996. . Downloaded on 30 July 2007....
, Dobsonia viridis
- Genus HarpyionycterisHarpyionycterisHarpyionycteris is a genus of megabat in the Pteropodidae family.It contains the following species:Genus Harpyionycteris* Harpy Fruit Bat, Harpyionycteris whiteheadi* Sulawesi Harpy Fruit Bat, Harpyionycteris celebensis...
- Sulawesi Harpy Fruit BatSulawesi Harpy Fruit BatThe Sulawesi Harpy Fruit Bat, is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. It is endemic to Indonesia....
, Harpyionycteris celebensis - Harpy Fruit BatHarpy Fruit BatThe Harpy Fruit Bat is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. It is endemic to the Philippines.-References:* Chiroptera Specialist Group 1996. . Downloaded on 30 July, 2007....
, Harpyionycteris whiteheadi
- Sulawesi Harpy Fruit Bat
- Genus Aproteles
- Subfamily MacroglossinaeMacroglossinae (Chiroptera)The megabat subfamily Macroglossinae is a small group comprising only 4 genera. The name "Macroglossinae" also happens to be shared by a subfamily of the moth family Sphingidae, a situation which the international taxonomic community has yet to rectify...
- Genus MacroglossusMacroglossusThe Long-tongued Nectar Bat is a species of megabat. M. minimus is one of the smallest species in the family Pteropodidae with an average length of 60 - 85 mm. They have a reddish brown colouring with relatively long hair compared to the other species...
- long-tongued fruit bats- Long-tongued Nectar Bat, Macroglossus minimus
- Long-tongued Fruit Bat, Macroglossus sobrinus
- Genus MelonycterisMelonycterisMelonycteris is a genus of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. Members are found in the Solomon Islands or in the case of the Black-bellied Fruit Bat, in Papua New Guinea.It contains the following species:Genus Melonycteris...
- Fardoulis' Blossom Bat, Melonycteris fardoulisi
- Black-bellied Fruit BatBlack-bellied Fruit BatThe Black-bellied Fruit Bat is a species of bat in the Pteropodidae family. It is endemic to Papua New Guinea. During daytime, this tiny flying fox roosts preferably among dry banana leaves, a perfect camouflage given its orange, brown, black and white belly fur pattern...
, Melonycteris melanops - Woodford's Fruit BatWoodford's Fruit BatWoodford's Fruit Bat is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. It is endemic to the Solomon Islands. The Orange Fruit Bat has now been equated with this species....
, Melonycteris woodfordi
- Genus NotopterisNotopterisNotopteris is a genus of megabat in the Pteropodidae family.It contains the following species:Genus Notopteris* Long-tailed Fruit Bat, Notopteris macdonaldi...
- long-tailed fruit bats- Long-tailed Fruit BatLong-tailed Fruit BatThe Long-tailed Fruit Bat is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. It is found in Fiji, New Caledonia, and Vanuatu. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests and caves. It is threatened by habitat loss....
, Notopteris macdonaldi (Fiji and Vanuatu) - New Caledonia Blossom BatNew Caledonia Blossom BatThe New Caledonia Blossom Bat, Notopteris neocaledonica, is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. Bats in this species live in caves in northern New Caledonia, and form colonies of up to 300....
, Notopteris neocaledonica (New Caledonia)
- Long-tailed Fruit Bat
- Genus SyconycterisSyconycterisSyconycteris is a genus of megabat in the Pteropodidae family.It contains the following species:Genus Syconycteris* Halmahera Blossom Bat, Syconycteris carolinae* Moss-forest Blossom Bat, Syconycteris hobbit...
- blossom bats- Common Blossom Bat, Syconycteris australis
- Halmahera Blossom BatHalmahera Blossom BatThe Halmahera Blossom Bat is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. It is endemic to Indonesia. It is threatened by habitat loss.-Source:* Chiroptera Specialist Group 1996. . Downloaded on 30 July 2007....
, Syconycteris carolinae - Moss-forest Blossom BatMoss-forest Blossom BatThe Moss-forest Blossom Bat, , is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. It is found in New Guinea. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.-Source:...
, Syconycteris hobbit
- Genus Macroglossus
- Subfamily PteropodinaePteropodinaePteropodinae is a subfamily of megabats. Species within this subfamily are:Subfamily Pteropodinae* Genus Acerodon**Sulawesi Flying Fox, Acerodon celebensis**Talaud Flying Fox, Acerodon humilis...
- Genus AcerodonAcerodonAcerodon is a genus of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. It contains six species, five of which are extant.-Species:Genus Acerodon* Sulawesi Flying Fox, Acerodon celebensis* Talaud Flying Fox, Acerodon humilis...
- Sulawesi Flying Fox, Acerodon celebensis
- Talaud Flying Fox, Acerodon humilis
- Giant Golden-crowned Flying FoxGiant golden-crowned flying foxThe Giant golden-crowned flying fox , also known as the Golden-capped fruit bat, is a rare megabat and considered the largest known bat in the world. The species is endangered and is currently facing the possibility of extinction because of poaching and forest destruction...
, Acerodon jubatus - Palawan Fruit BatPalawan Fruit BatThe Palawan Fruit Bat is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. It is endemic to the Palawan region in the Philippines. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry forests. It is threatened by habitat loss....
, Acerodon leucotis - Panay Giant Fruit BatPanay Giant Fruit BatThe Panay Giant Fruit Bat is a megabat from the Philippines that was declared extinct in 1996. Probable causes include anthropogenic destruction of forest habitat and/or overhunting of the species. Many appeared in camps during World War II.-External links:* * *...
, Acerodon lucifer (1996 †) - Sunda Flying Fox, Acerodon mackloti
- Genus DesmalopexDesmalopexDesmalopex is a genus of megabats in the Pteropodidae family. It has historically been included in the genus Pteropus and occurs only in the Philippines.It comprises the following species:*White-winged Flying Fox, Desmalopex leucopterus...
- White-winged Flying FoxWhite-winged Flying FoxThe White-winged Flying Fox is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. It is endemic to the Philippines. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.-References:...
, Desmalopex leucopterus - Small White-winged Flying FoxSmall White-winged Flying FoxThe Small White-winged Flying Fox is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. It is known from Mindoro Island, in the Philippines....
, Desmalopex microleucopterus
- White-winged Flying Fox
- Genus EidolonEidolon (genus)Eidolon is a genus of megabats in the Pteropodidae family. It contains two species:*Madagascan Fruit Bat, Eidolon dupreanum*Straw-coloured Fruit Bat, Eidolon helvum-References:...
- straw-coloured fruit bats- Madagascan Fruit BatMadagascan Fruit BatThe Madagascan Fruit Bat is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. It is endemic to Madagascar.-References:* Chiroptera Specialist Group 1996. . Downloaded on 30 July 2007....
, Eidolon dupreanum - Straw-coloured Fruit BatStraw-coloured Fruit BatThe Straw-coloured Fruit Bat is the most widely distributed of all the African megabats. It is quite common throughout its area ranging from southwestern Arabian Peninsula, forest and savanna zones of Africa and to the offshore island of Madagascar...
, Eidolon helvum
- Madagascan Fruit Bat
- Genus Mirimiri
- Fijian Monkey-faced BatFijian Monkey-faced BatThe Fijian monkey-faced bat , also called the Fiji Flying Fox, is an megabat endemic to Fiji. It was discovered the hills of Taveuni by Bill Beckon in 1977 and is Fiji's only endemic mammal. It is listed as a critically endangered species due to habitat loss. It has recently been transferred from...
, Mirimiri acrodonta
- Fijian Monkey-faced Bat
- Genus Neopteryx
- Small-toothed Fruit BatSmall-toothed Fruit BatThe Small-toothed Fruit Bat is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. It is monotypic within the genus Neopteryx. It is endemic to Indonesia. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry forests.-Source:...
, Neopteryx frosti
- Small-toothed Fruit Bat
- Genus PteralopexPteralopexPteralopex is a genus of large megabats in the Pteropodidae family. They are restricted to Solomon Islands rain forests in Melanesia, and all species are seriously threatened, being rated as either endangered or critically endangered by IUCN. Two species, P. taki and P...
- Bougainville Monkey-faced BatBougainville Monkey-faced BatThe Bougainville monkey-faced bat is a megabat found only on islands of Bougainville and Choiseul in Melanesia. It is listed as an endangered species due to habitat loss and human disturbance....
, Pteralopex anceps - Guadalcanal Monkey-faced BatGuadalcanal Monkey-faced BatThe Guadalcanal monkey-faced bat is a megabat endemic to Solomon Islands. It is listed as a critically endangered species....
, Pteralopex atrata - Greater Monkey-faced BatGreater Monkey-faced BatThe Greater Monkey-faced bat, is a megabat endemic to Solomon Islands, Bougainville, in Papua New Guinea, and nearby small islands. It is listed as a critically endangered species and the population is decreasing...
, Pteralopex flanneryi - Montane Monkey-faced BatMontane Monkey-faced BatThe Montane monkey-faced bat is a megabat endemic to the Solomon Islands. It is listed as a critically endangered species....
, Pteralopex pulchra - New Georgian Monkey-faced BatNew Georgian Monkey-faced BatThe New Georgian Monkey-faced Bat is a recently described species of megabat endemic to the Solomon Islands, more specifically New Georgia island and Vangunu island. It is presumably extinct on Kolombangara island, and remaining population on other islands are threatened by habitat loss and...
, Pteralopex taki
- Bougainville Monkey-faced Bat
- Genus PteropusPteropusBats of the genus Pteropus, belonging to the megabat or Megachiroptera sub-order, are the largest bats in the world. They are commonly known as the fruit bats or flying foxes among other colloquial names...
- flying foxes- P. alecto species group
- Black Flying Fox, Pteropus alecto
- P. caniceps species group
- Ashy-headed Flying Fox, Pteropus caniceps
- P. chrysoproctus species group
- Silvery Flying Fox, Pteropus argentatus
- Moluccan Flying Fox, Pteropus chrysoproctus
- Makira Flying FoxMakira Flying FoxThe Makira Flying Fox is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family found in the Solomon Islands.-References:...
, Pteropus cognatus - Banks Flying FoxBanks Flying FoxThe Banks Flying Fox is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. It is endemic to Vanuatu. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests and subtropical or tropical swamps.-References:...
, Pteropus fundatus - Solomons Flying Fox, Pteropus rayneri
- Rennell Flying FoxRennell Flying FoxThe Rennell Flying Fox is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family found in the Solomon Islands.-References:...
, Pteropus rennelli
- P. conspicillatus species group
- Spectacled Flying Fox, Pteropus conspicillatus
- Ceram Fruit BatCeram Fruit BatThe Ceram fruit bat or Seram flying fox is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. It is endemic to the mountainous forests of two Indonesian islands, Buru and Seram, including the Manusela National Park on Seram. They were present on the nearby Ambon Island but probably not anymore...
, Pteropus ocularis
- P. livingstonii species group
- Aru Flying FoxAru Flying FoxThe Aru Flying Fox is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family found in the Aru Islands.-References:*D.E. Wilson & D.M. Reeder, 2005: Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. Third Edition. The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore...
, Pteropus aruensis - Kei Flying FoxKei Flying FoxThe Kei Flying Fox is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family found in the Kai Islands of Indonesia.-References:...
, Pteropus keyensis - Livingstone's Fruit BatLivingstone's Fruit BatLivingstone's Fruit Bat Livingstone's Fruit Bat Livingstone's Fruit Bat (or Livingstone's Flying Fox; (Pteropus livingstonii) is a megabat in the genus Pteropus. It is found only on two islands in the Comoros. It is the largest bat of all Comorian species. Its preferred habitat is montane forest,...
, Pteropus livingstonii - Black-bearded Flying FoxBlack-bearded Flying FoxThe Black-bearded Flying Fox is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. It is endemic to Indonesia.-References:* Chiroptera Specialist Group 1996. . Downloaded on 30 July 2007....
, Pteropus melanopogon
- Aru Flying Fox
- P. mariannus species group
- Okinawa Flying Fox, Pteropus loochoensis
- Mariana Fruit BatMariana Fruit BatThe Mariana Fruit Bat , also known as the Mariana flying fox, and the fanihi in Chamorro is a megabat that is found only on Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands and Ulithi . Habitat loss has driven it to endangered status and it is listed as threatened by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service...
, Pteropus mariannus - Pelew Flying FoxPelew Flying FoxThe Pelew Flying Fox is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family found in the Pelew Islands.-References:*D.E. Wilson & D.M. Reeder, 2005: Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. Third Edition. The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore...
, Pteropus pelewensis - Kosrae Flying FoxKosrae Flying FoxThe Kosrae Flying Fox is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family found on the island of Kosrae, Micronesia....
, Pteropus ualanus - Yap Flying FoxYap Flying FoxThe Yap Flying Fox is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family found on Yap Island.-References:*D.E. Wilson & D.M. Reeder, 2005: Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. Third Edition. The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore...
, Pteropus yapensis
- P. melanotus species group
- Black-eared Flying FoxBlack-eared Flying FoxThe Black-eared Flying Fox is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. It is found on Christmas Island , Andaman Islands , Nicobar Islands ; Sumatra ....
, Pteropus melanotus
- Black-eared Flying Fox
- P. molossinus species group
- Lombok Flying FoxLombok Flying FoxThe Lombok Flying Fox is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. It is endemic to Indonesia.-References:* Chiroptera Specialist Group 1996. . Downloaded on 30 July 2007....
, Pteropus lombocensis - Caroline Flying FoxCaroline Flying FoxThe Caroline Flying Fox or Pohnpei Flying-fox is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. It is endemic to Micronesia. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry forests. It is threatened by habitat loss....
, Pteropus molossinus - Rodrigues Flying FoxRodrigues Flying FoxThe Rodrigues Flying Fox or Rodrigues Fruit Bat is a species of megabat in the family Pteropodidae, the flying foxes or fruit bats. It is endemic to Rodrigues, an island in the Indian Ocean belonging to Mauritius. Its natural habitat is tropical moist lowland forests. It is a sociable species...
, Pteropus rodricensis
- Lombok Flying Fox
- P. neohibernicus species group
- Bismarck Flying Fox, Pteropus neohibernicus
- P. niger species group
- Aldabra Flying FoxAldabra Flying FoxThe Aldabra Flying Fox or Aldabra Flying-fox is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. It is endemic to Seychelles. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical mangrove forests and subtropical or tropical dry shrubland.-Source:* Mickleburgh, S., Hutson, A., Bergmans, W. & Howell,...
, Pteropus aldabrensis - Mauritian Flying FoxMauritian flying foxThe Mauritian flying fox , also known as Greater Mascarene flying fox or Mauritius fruit bat is a large megabat species endemic to Mauritius and La Réunion.-Description:...
, Pteropus niger - Madagascan Flying FoxMadagascan Flying FoxThe Madagascan Flying Fox, Madagascar Flying-fox, or Madagascar Fruit Bat is a species of megabat in the family Pteropodidae. It is endemic to Madagascar. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. It is threatened by habitat loss...
, Pteropus rufus - Seychelles Fruit BatSeychelles fruit batThe Seychelles fruit bat or Seychelles flying fox, Pteropus seychellensis, is a megabat found on the granitic islands of Seychelles, and on the Comoros and Mafia Island. It is a significant component of the ecosystems for the islands, dispersing the seeds of many tree species. Although it is hunted...
, Pteropus seychellensis - Pemba Flying FoxPemba Flying FoxThe Pemba Flying Fox is a species of megabat in the family Pteropodidae. It is endemic to the island of Pemba in Tanzania. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical mangrove forests. It is threatened by habitat loss...
, Pteropus voeltzkowi
- Aldabra Flying Fox
- P. personatus species group
- Bismark Masked Flying FoxBismark Masked Flying FoxThe Bismark Masked Flying Fox is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family found in Papua New Guinea and named after the Bismarck Archipelago. It was originally considered a subspecies of Pteropus temminckii before being reassessed in 2001...
, Pteropus capistratus - Masked Flying FoxMasked Flying FoxThe Masked Flying Fox or Masked Fruit Bat is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. It is endemic to Indonesia.-References:* Chiroptera Specialist Group 1996. . Downloaded on 30 July 2007....
, Pteropus personatus - Temminck's Flying FoxTemminck's Flying FoxThe Temminck's Flying Fox is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. It is found in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.-Source:* Chiroptera Specialist Group 1996. . Downloaded on 30 July 2007....
, Pteropus temminckii
- Bismark Masked Flying Fox
- P. poliocephalus species group
- Big-eared Flying FoxBig-eared Flying FoxThe Big-eared Flying Fox is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. It is found in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.-References:* Chiroptera Specialist Group 1996. . Downloaded on 30 July 2007....
, Pteropus macrotis - Geelvink Bay Flying FoxGeelvink Bay Flying FoxThe Geelvink Bay Flying Fox or Geelvink Bay Fruit Bat is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. It is endemic to West Papua, Indonesia. The name Geelvink comes from a Dutch ship and family called Geelvinck.-Source:...
, Pteropus pohlei - Grey-headed Flying FoxGrey-headed Flying FoxThe Grey-headed Flying-Fox, Pteropus poliocephalus, is a megabat native to Australia.Members of the genus Pteropus include the largest bats in the world. The Pteropus genus has currently about 57 recognised species....
, Pteropus poliocephalus
- Big-eared Flying Fox
- P. pselaphon species group
- Chuuk Flying Fox, Pteropus insularis
- Temotu Flying FoxTemotu Flying FoxThe Temotu Flying Fox is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. It is endemic to the Solomon Islands.-References:* Chiroptera Specialist Group 1996. . Downloaded on 30 July 2007....
, Pteropus nitendiensis - Large Palau Flying FoxLarge Palau Flying FoxThe Large Palau Flying Fox is an extinct species of medium-sized megabats from the Palau Islands in Micronesia. It had brownish fur with long, silvery hairs on its belly, and a wingspan of about 60 cm. It probably became extinct around 1874; possibly due to overhunting. It is known from two...
, Pteropus pilosus (19th century †) - Bonin Flying FoxBonin Flying FoxThe Bonin Flying Fox or Bonin Fruit Bat is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. It is endemic to four islands in Ogasawara Islands, Japan. Its natural habitat is temperate forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.-Source:* Ishii, N. 2000. . Downloaded on 30 July 2007....
, Pteropus pselaphon - Guam Flying FoxGuam flying foxThe Guam flying fox was a tiny megabat from Guam in the Marianas Islands in Micronesia that was confirmed extinct due to hunting or habitat changes. It was first recorded in 1931 and was observed roosting with the larger and much more common Marianas flying fox. The last specimen was a female...
, Pteropus tokudae (1970s1970sFile:1970s decade montage.png|From left, clockwise: US President Richard Nixon doing the V for Victory sign after his resignation from office after the Watergate scandal in 1974; Refugees aboard a US naval boat after the Fall of Saigon, leading to the end of the Vietnam War in 1975; The 1973 oil...
†) - Insular Flying Fox, Pteropus tonganus
- Vanikoro Flying FoxVanikoro Flying FoxThe Vanikoro Flying Fox is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. It is endemic to the Solomon Islands.-References:* Chiroptera Specialist Group 1996. . Downloaded on 30 July 2007....
, Pteropus tuberculatus - New Caledonia Flying FoxNew Caledonia Flying FoxThe New Caledonia Flying Fox, Pteropus vetulus, is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. It is endemic to New Caledonia.-Reference:* Chiroptera Specialist Group 1996. . Downloaded on 30 July 2007....
, Pteropus vetulus
- P. samoensis species group
- Vanuatu Flying Fox, Pteropus anetianus
- Samoa Flying Fox, Pteropus samoensis
- P. scapulatus species group
- Gilliard's Flying Fox, Pteropus gilliardorum
- Lesser Flying Fox, Pteropus mahaganus
- Little Red Flying Fox, Pteropus scapulatus
- Dwarf Flying FoxDwarf Flying FoxThe Dwarf Flying Fox, Least Flying-fox, or Least Fruit Bat is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. It is endemic to the Solomon Islands.-References:...
, Pteropus woodfordi
- P. subniger species group
- Admiralty Flying Fox, Pteropus admiralitatum
- Dusky Flying FoxDusky Flying FoxThe Dusky Flying Fox , also known as the Percy Island Flying Fox, is an extinct species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. It was endemic to Percy Island off the southeast coast of Mackay, Queensland in the northeast corner of Australia. Only one specimen is known to exist. It was collected in...
, Pteropus brunneus (19th century †) - Ryukyu Flying Fox, Pteropus dasymallus
- Nicobar Flying FoxNicobar Flying FoxThe Nicobar Flying Fox is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. It is endemic to India. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical swamps. It is threatened by habitat loss.-Source:* Participants of CBSG CAMP Workshop: Status of...
, Pteropus faunulus - Gray Flying Fox, Pteropus griseus
- Ontong Java Flying FoxOntong Java Flying FoxThe Ontong Java Flying Fox is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. It is endemic to the Ontong Java Atoll in the Solomon Islands. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests and subtropical or tropical swamps.-Source:* Chiroptera Specialist Group 1996. . Downloaded...
, Pteropus howensis - Small Flying Fox, Pteropus hypomelanus
- Ornate Flying FoxOrnate Flying FoxThe Ornate Flying Fox, Pteropus ornatus, is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. It is endemic to New Caledonia. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry forests.-Source:...
, Pteropus ornatus - Little Golden-mantled Flying FoxLittle Golden-mantled Flying FoxThe Little Golden-mantled Flying Fox is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. It is found in Indonesia and the Philippines. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry forests. It is threatened by habitat loss....
, Pteropus pumilus - Philippine Gray Flying FoxPhilippine Gray Flying FoxThe Philippine Gray Flying Fox is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. It is found in Indonesia and the Philippines. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry forests. It is threatened by habitat loss....
, Pteropus speciosus - Small Mauritian Flying FoxSmall Mauritian Flying FoxThe Small Mauritian Flying Fox or Dark Flying Fox is an extinct species of megabat. It lived on the islands of Réunion and Mauritius in the Mascarene Islands of the Indian Ocean...
, Pteropus subniger (19th century †)
- P. vampyrus species group
- Indian Flying Fox, Pteropus giganteus
- Andersen's Flying FoxAndersen's Flying FoxThe Andersen's Flying Fox is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family found in south Burma and west Thailand.-References:...
, Pteropus intermedius - Lyle's Flying FoxLyle's Flying FoxThe Lyle's Flying Fox is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. It is found in Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam.-References:* Bumrungsri, S., Suyanto, A. & Francis, C. . . Downloaded on 30 July 2007....
, Pteropus lylei - Large Flying FoxLarge Flying FoxThe Large Flying Fox , also known as the Greater Flying Fox, Malaysian Flying Fox, Kalang or Kalong, is a species of megabat in the family Pteropodidae. Like the other members of the genus Pteropus, or the Old World fruit bats, it feeds exclusively on fruits. It is noted for being the largest...
, Pteropus vampyrus
- incertae sedisIncertae sedis, is a term used to define a taxonomic group where its broader relationships are unknown or undefined. Uncertainty at specific taxonomic levels is attributed by , , and similar terms.-Examples:*The fossil plant Paradinandra suecica could not be assigned to any...
- Small Samoan Flying Fox, Pteropus allenorum (19th century †)
- Large Samoan Flying FoxLarge Samoan Flying FoxLarge Samoan Flying Fox is a species of fruit eating megabat whose type specimen was originally collected in Samoa in 1856, but was not identified as a new species until 2009. The only known specimen was collected by an American expedition to Samoa in 1838-1842, It was rediscovered by Smithsonian...
, Pteropus coxi (19th century †)
- P. alecto species group
- Genus StylocteniumStylocteniumStyloctenium is a genus of stripe-faced fruit bat in the Pteropodidae or family.It comprises the following species:*Mindoro stripe-faced fruit bat, Styloctenium mindorensis*Sulawesi Stripe-faced Fruit Bat, Styloctenium wallacei...
- Mindoro Stripe-faced Fruit BatMindoro stripe-faced fruit batThe Mindoro Stripe-faced Fruit Bat , nicknamed the "flying fox" for its foxlike face , is a species of large Philippine megabat. It is endemic to the island of Mindoro. S. mindorensis is a typical fruit bat, possessing modified forearms for flight, short clawed hind legs and large ears for use in...
, Styloctenium mindorensis - Sulawesi Stripe-faced Fruit BatSulawesi Stripe-faced Fruit BatThe Wallace's or Sulawesi Stripe-faced Fruit Bat is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. It is endemic to Sulawesi. Cave paintings resembling these bats have been found in Australia, where bats of this kind are not otherwise known.-External links:* Chiroptera Specialist Group 1996. . ...
, Styloctenium wallacei
- Mindoro Stripe-faced Fruit Bat
- Genus Acerodon
- Subfamily Rousettinae
- Genus EonycterisEonycterisEonycteris is a genus of megabats found in Asia. Species within this genus are:*Greater Nectar Bat, Eonycteris major*Cave Nectar Bat, Eonycteris spelaea*Philippine Dawn Bat, Eonycteris robusta...
- dawn fruit bats- Greater Nectar BatGreater Nectar BatThe Greater Nectar Bat or Greater Dawn Bat is a species of megabat within the genus Eonycteris. It is found in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines...
, Eonycteris major - Cave Nectar BatCave Nectar BatCave Nectar Bat , common names also include Dawn Bat, Common Dawn Bat, Common Nectar Bat and Lesser Dawn Bat , is a species of megabat within the genus Eonycteris. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montanes and caves, and it is threatened by habitat loss. E...
, Eonycteris spelaea - Philippine Dawn BatPhilippine Dawn BatThe Philippine Dawn Bat, , is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family found in the Philippines....
, Eonycteris robusta
- Greater Nectar Bat
- Genus RousettusRousettusRousettus is a genus of Old World fruit bats or megabats. They are sometimes referred to as dog-faced fruit bats, or flying foxes. The genus is a member of the suborder Megachiroptera...
- rousette fruit bats- Subgenus Boneia
- Manado Fruit BatManado Fruit BatThe Manado Fruit Bat is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. It is endemic to Indonesia .-References:* Chiroptera Specialist Group 1996. . Downloaded on 30 July 2007....
, Rousettus (Boneia) bidens
- Manado Fruit Bat
- Subgenus Rousettus
- Geoffroy's RousetteGeoffroy's RousetteThe Geoffroy's Rousette, , is a species of megabat or old world fruit bats.- Distribution :The Geoffroy's Rousette occurs throughout the whole of Southeast Asia: Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Singapore, Indonesia, the island of Borneo, East Timor, the Philippines, the Solomon Islands...
, Rousettus amplexicaudatus - Sulawesi RousetteSulawesi RousetteThe Sulawesi Rousette is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. It is endemic to Indonesia.-References:* Chiroptera Specialist Group 1996. . Downloaded on 30 July 2007....
, Rousettus celebensis - Egyptian Rousette (Egyptian Fruit Bat), Rousettus aegyptiacus
- Leschenault's Rousette, Rousettus leschenaulti
- Linduan RousetteLinduan RousetteThe Linduan Rousette is a species of megabat in the Rousettus genus of the Pteropodidae family. It is endemic to Indonesia and is known only from four specimens collected in the swamp forest of Lore Lindu National Park, in central Sulawesi. It was only described in 2003 and very little is known...
, Rousettus linduensis - Comoro RousetteComoro RousetteThe Comoro Rousette is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. It is endemic to the Comoros Islands. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, caves, plantations , and urban areas. It is threatened by habitat loss.-Source:* Mickleburgh, S., Hutson, A.,...
, Rousettus obliviosus - Bare-backed Rousette, Rousettus spinalatus
- Geoffroy's Rousette
- Subgenus Stenonycteris
- Long-haired RousetteLong-haired RousetteThe Long-haired Rousette is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. It is found in Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montanes.-References:* Mickleburgh, S., Hutson, A.,...
, Rousettus (Stenonycteris) lanosus - Madagascar Rousette, Rousettus (Stenonycteris) madagascariensis
- Long-haired Rousette
- Subgenus Boneia
- Genus Eonycteris
- Subfamily Epomophorinae
- Tribe Epomophorini
- Genus EpomophorusEpomophorusEpomophorus is a genus of bat in the Pteropodidae family. They have a distribution throughout Africa.-Species:Epomophorus contains the following species:Genus Epomophorus* Angolan Epauletted Fruit Bat, Epomophorus angolensis...
- epauletted fruit bats- Angolan Epauletted Fruit BatAngolan Epauletted Fruit BatThe Angolan Epauletted Fruit Bat is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. It is found in Angola and Namibia. Its natural habitats are dry savanna and moist savanna. It is threatened by habitat loss.-Source:...
, Epomophorus angolensis - Ansell's Epauletted Fruit BatAnsell's Epauletted Fruit BatThe Ansell's Epauletted Fruit Bat is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family.-Source:* D.E. Wilson & D.M. Reeder, 2005: Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. Third Edition. The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore...
, Epomophorus anselli - Peters's Epauletted Fruit BatPeters's Epauletted Fruit BatThe Peters's Epauletted Fruit Bat is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. It is found in Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe...
, Epomophorus crypturus - Gambian Epauletted Fruit BatGambian Epauletted Fruit BatThe Gambian Epauletted Fruit Bat is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family.The species is known to travel in packs and are also known to be tropical...
, Epomophorus gambianus - Lesser Angolan Epauletted Fruit BatLesser Angolan Epauletted Fruit BatThe Lesser Angolan Epauletted Fruit Bat is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. It is found in Angola and Republic of the Congo. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests, subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, dry savanna, and moist savanna. It is threatened...
, Epomophorus grandis - Ethiopian Epauletted Fruit BatEthiopian Epauletted Fruit BatThe Ethiopian Epauletted Fruit Bat is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. It is found in Burundi, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda. Its natural habitats are dry...
, Epomophorus labiatus - East African Epauletted Fruit BatEast African Epauletted Fruit BatThe East African Epauletted Fruit Bat is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. It is found in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Tanzania, and Uganda. Its natural habitats are dry savanna and rocky areas. It is threatened by habitat loss.-References:* Mickleburgh, S., Hutson, A. & Bergmans, W....
, Epomophorus minimus - Minor Epauletted Fruit BatMinor Epauletted Fruit BatThe Minor Epauletted Fruit Bat is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. It is found in Zambia, Tanzania, Mozambique and Kenya.-Further reading:*Notes on bats of Sudan.*Mammals from Malawi, part 1....
, Epomophorus minor - Wahlberg's Epauletted Fruit BatWahlberg's Epauletted Fruit BatThe Wahlberg's Epauletted Fruit Bat is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. It is found in Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Somalia, South Africa, Swaziland,...
, Epomophorus wahlbergi
- Angolan Epauletted Fruit Bat
- Genus EpomopsEpomopsEpomops is a genus of bat in the Pteropodidae family.It contains the following species:* Buettikofer's Epauletted Fruit Bat, Epomops buettikoferi* Dobson's Fruit Bat, Epomops dobsoni* Franquet's Epauletted Fruit Bat, Epomops franqueti...
- epauletted bats- Buettikofer's Epauletted Fruit BatBuettikofer's Epauletted Fruit BatBuettikofer's Epauletted Fruit Bat is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. It is found in Ivory Coast, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, and Sierra Leone. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, dry savanna, and moist savanna...
, Epomops buettikoferi - Dobson's Fruit BatDobson's Fruit BatDobson's Epauletted Fruit Bat, or Dobson's Fruit Bat is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. It is found in Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Zambia. Its natural habitat is dry savanna.-References:* Mickleburgh, S., Hutson, A.,...
, Epomops dobsoni - Franquet's Epauletted Fruit BatFranquet's Epauletted Fruit BatFranquet's Epauletted Fruit Bat is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family.-Range and habitat:Franquet's epauletted fruit bat ranges from Ivory Coast to southern Sudan and south to Angola and Zambia....
, Epomops franqueti
- Buettikofer's Epauletted Fruit Bat
- Genus Hypsignathus
- Hammer-headed BatHammer-headed batThe Hammer-headed Bat , also known as the Big-lipped Bat, is a megabat widely distributed in equatorial Africa. This large bat is found in riverine forests, mangroves, swamps, and palm forests at elevations less than 1800 meters.- Taxonomy :The hammer-headed bat is a member of the family Pteropodidae...
, Hypsignathus monstrosus
- Hammer-headed Bat
- Genus MicropteropusMicropteropusMicropteropus is a genus of bat in the Pteropodidae family.It contains the following species:* Hayman's Dwarf Epauletted Fruit Bat, Micropteropus intermedius* Peter's Dwarf Epauletted Fruit Bat, Micropteropus pusillus...
- dwarf epauletted bats- Hayman's Dwarf Epauletted Fruit BatHayman's Dwarf Epauletted Fruit BatHayman's Dwarf Epauletted Fruit Bat or Hayman's Epauletted Fruit Bat is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. It is found in Angola and Democratic Republic of the Congo. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and moist savanna...
, Micropteropus intermedius - Peter's Dwarf Epauletted Fruit BatPeter's Dwarf Epauletted Fruit BatPeter's Dwarf Epauletted Fruit Bat is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. It is found in Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia,...
, Micropteropus pusillus
- Hayman's Dwarf Epauletted Fruit Bat
- Genus Nanonycteris
- Veldkamp's Dwarf Epauletted Fruit Bat, Nanonycteris veldkampii
- Genus Epomophorus
- Tribe Myonycterini
- Genus LissonycterisLissonycterisLissonycteris is a genus of bat in the Pteropodidae family.It contains the following species:* Angolan Fruit Bat * Harrison's Fruit Bat * Petra Fruit Bat...
- Angolan Rousette, Lissonycteris angolensis
- Genus Megaloglossus
- Woermann's BatWoermann's BatWoermann's Bat or Woermann's Fruit Bat is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. It is monotypic within the genus Megaloglossus...
, Megaloglossus woermanni
- Woermann's Bat
- Genus MyonycterisMyonycterisMyonycteris is a genus of bat in the Pteropodidae family.It contains the following species:Genus Myonycteris* Sao Tomé Collared Fruit Bat, Myonycteris brachycephala* East African Little Collared Fruit Bat, Myonycteris relicta...
- little collared fruit bats- São Tomé Collared Fruit BatSão Tomé Collared Fruit BatThe Sao Tomé Collared Fruit Bat is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. It is endemic to São Tomé and Príncipe. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montanes. It is threatened by habitat loss.-References:* Juste, J.,...
, Myonycteris brachycephala - East African Little Collared Fruit BatEast African Little Collared Fruit BatThe East African Little Collared Fruit Bat is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. It is found in Kenya, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests and moist savanna. It is threatened by habitat loss.-Source:* Mickleburgh, S., Hutson, A.,...
, Myonycteris relicta - Little Collared Fruit BatLittle Collared Fruit BatThe Little Collared Fruit Bat is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family.It is found in Angola, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Sudan,...
, Myonycteris torquata
- São Tomé Collared Fruit Bat
- Genus Lissonycteris
- Tribe Plerotini
- Genus Plerotes
- D'Anchieta's Fruit BatD'Anchieta's Fruit BatD'Anchieta's Fruit Bat is a species of megabat in the family Pteropodidae. It is the only species in the genus Plerotes. It is found in Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, and Zambia, where it lives in subtropical or tropical dry forests, dry savanna, and moist savanna. It is listed...
, Plerotes anchietae
- D'Anchieta's Fruit Bat
- Genus Plerotes
- Tribe Scotonycterini
- Genus Casinycteris
- Short-palated Fruit BatShort-palated Fruit BatThe Short-palated Fruit Bat is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. It is monotypic within the genus Casinycteris. It is found in Cameroon, Central African Republic, and Democratic Republic of the Congo. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests...
, Casinycteris argynnis
- Short-palated Fruit Bat
- Genus ScotonycterisScotonycterisScotonycteris is a small genus of bat in the Pteropodidae family. These bats are found in various countries of West and Central Africa.It contains at least two known species:Genus Scotonycteris* Zenker's Fruit Bat, Scotonycteris zenkeri...
- Zenker's Fruit BatZenker's Fruit BatZenker's Fruit Bat is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. It is found in Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, and Nigeria. Its natural habitats are subtropical or...
, Scotonycteris zenkeri - Pohle's Fruit BatPohle's Fruit BatPohle's Fruit Bat is a near threatened species of megabat found in the subtropical or tropical forests of Cameroon, the Republic of Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana and Liberia. -Characteristics:...
, Scotonycteris ophiodon
- Zenker's Fruit Bat
- Genus Casinycteris
- Tribe Epomophorini
As disease reservoirs
Fruit bats have been found to act as reservoirsNatural reservoir
Natural reservoir or nidus, refers to the long-term host of the pathogen of an infectious disease. It is often the case that hosts do not get the disease carried by the pathogen or it is carried as a subclinical infection and so asymptomatic and non-lethal...
for a number of diseases which can prove fatal to humans and domestic animals such as horses. The bats themselves sometimes have no signs of infection.
Researchers tested fruit bats for the presence of the Ebola
Ebola
Ebola virus disease is the name for the human disease which may be caused by any of the four known ebolaviruses. These four viruses are: Bundibugyo virus , Ebola virus , Sudan virus , and Taï Forest virus...
virus between 2001 and 2003. Three species
of bats tested positive for Ebola
Ebola
Ebola virus disease is the name for the human disease which may be caused by any of the four known ebolaviruses. These four viruses are: Bundibugyo virus , Ebola virus , Sudan virus , and Taï Forest virus...
, but had no symptoms of the virus. This indicates that the bats may be acting as a reservoir for the virus. Of the infected animals identified during these field collections, immunoglobulin G (IgG) specific for Ebola virus was detected in Hypsignathus monstrosus, Epomops franqueti, and Myonycteris torquata.
The epidemical Marburg virus
Marburg virus
Marburg virus disease is the name for the human disease caused by any of the two marburgviruses Marburg virus and Ravn virus...
was found in 2007 in specimens of the Egyptian fruit bat
Egyptian fruit bat
The Egyptian Fruit Bat or Egyptian Rousette is a species of Old World fruit bat found throughout Africa, except in the desert regions of the Sahara, and throughout the Middle East, as far east as Pakistan and northern India...
, confirming the suspicion that this species may be a reservoir for this dangerous virus.
Fruit bats are considered a delicacy by South Pacific Islanders
Polynesia
Polynesia is a subregion of Oceania, made up of over 1,000 islands scattered over the central and southern Pacific Ocean. The indigenous people who inhabit the islands of Polynesia are termed Polynesians and they share many similar traits including language, culture and beliefs...
, where consumption has been suggested as a possible cause of Lytico-Bodig disease
Lytico-Bodig disease
Lytico-Bodig disease, sometimes spelled Lytigo-bodig is a neurological disease of uncertain aetiology that exists in the United States territory of Guam....
.
Other diseases which can be carried by fruit bats include Australian bat lyssavirus
Australian bat lyssavirus
Australian bat lyssavirus is a zoonotic virus closely related to rabies virus. It was first identified in a 5-month old juvenile Black Flying Fox collected near Ballina in northern New South Wales, Australia in 1996 during a national surveillance program for the recently identified Hendra virus...
and Henipavirus
Henipavirus
Henipavirus is a genus of the family Paramyxoviridae, order Mononegavirales containing two established species, Hendra virus and Nipah virus. The henipaviruses are naturally harboured by Pteropid fruit bats , and some microbat species...
(notably Hendra virus and Nipah virus), both of which can prove fatal to humans.