Advertisement.

EnchantedLearning.com is a user-supported site.
As a bonus, site members have access to a banner-ad-free version of the site, with print-friendly pages.
Click here to learn more.




ad
(Already a member? Click here.)


More on Bats EnchantedLearning.com
Fruit Bats
Family Pteropodidae

Animal Printouts
Label Me! Printouts

Click on a region in the picture to color it in with the selected color.
Click on a color swatch in the palette to select a new color.
The currently selected color in the palette is indicated by a black rectangle drawn around it.
When you click, the point that you're clicking on is at the tip of the arrow or the tip of the pointing finger.


Fruit bats (Family Pteropodidae) are flying mammals that live in dense forests in Africa, Europe, Australia, and Asia. There are about 166 species of fruit bats. Fruit bats are sometimes known as flying foxes. These bats live in huge colonies, known as "camps." These nocturnal (most active at night) animals rest during the day while hanging upside down from their feet.

Pollination and Seed Dispersal: As fruit bats fly from plant to plant getting food, they also pollinate the plants they visit. In addition, they disperse the plants' seeds as they eat. Many plants, including some avocados, dates, mangos, and peaches, are dependent on these bats for either pollination or seed dispersal.

Anatomy: Fruit bats are relatively large bats. Their wings are long fingers covered by thin skin, and the body is furry. Males and females look alike. Like all bats, they have weak legs and don't walk very well. Livingstone's Fruit Bat (Pteropus livingstonii, from Africa) is one of the largest fruit bats; it has a wingspan of up to 6 ft (1.8 m). The long-tongued fruit bat (Macroglossus minimus) is one of the smallest fruit bats; it has a wingspan of 5-6 inches (13-15 cm).

Senses and Diet: Fruit bats mostly eat fruit juice and flower nectar. They chew the fruit, then spit out the seeds, peel, and pulp. Fruit bats, like other Megachiropteran bats, use the sense of smell to find their food, fruit and/or nectar. Although they have large eyes and can see well, fruit bats do not use sight as their primary sense.



Enchanted Learning Search

Search the Enchanted Learning website for:



Advertisement.


Advertisement.




Copyright ©1999-2018 EnchantedLearning.com ------ How to cite a web page