Egyptian Fruit Bat
Egyptian Fruit Bat
2. Males are larger than females and can easily be distinguished by their large scrotal sac.
3. They are typically light brown in colour with darker brown wings with large pointed ears, dark eyes and dog like muzzle, they are sometimes referred to as the “Dog Faced Bat”. They have extremely soft fur and their wings feel not unlike tights!
4. Egyptian fruit bats were originally discovered in Egypt in 1810 roosting in the pyramids of Giza. They are now wide spread and can be found in the Middle East, both sides of the Sahara, Africa, Turkey, Cyprus and Pakistan.
5. They live where there are fruit and flowers, in a variety of habitats from lowlands to mountains.
6. They have a vestigial (trace) tail, the typical claw on the thumb, and also a claw on the adjacent finger.
7. The Egyptian fruit bat is unique in this suborder of Old World fruit bats, in that they roost mainly in caves rather than in tall trees like bats of the genus Pteropus.
8. Roosting in large numbers, they are among the largest animal groupings in the world (up to 2,000 individuals).
9. There is a constant hum of noise from their squabbling and fighting throughout the day. They fight over roosting spots, females, and food. They do this with wings half open, but with mouths closed. It looks as though they are “boxing” each other with their wings. Loud screeching is heard while the fighting occurs.
10. When a fruit tree has been located, the bats circle it before grasping the branches.
11. Ripe fruit is found by their keen sense of smell and eyesight. The juicy pulp is either eaten right away or taken away in special cheek pouches for eating later.
12. They don’t use echolocation for hunting like bats that eat insects. Instead, they use rudimentary echolocation for navigation through darkness. They are nocturnal (active at night).
13. Unlike most other bat species, the female Egyptian fruit bat gives birth in her roosting position, hanging by her toes with her wings slightly open. Once her pup is born she completely covers it with her wings to prevent disturbance to her pup from other colony members.
14. They are also known as “dog bats” because of their facial structure.
15. Like other fruit bats, it looks a little fox-like and is often referred to as a “flying fox.”
16. The order Chiroptera is derived from chiro = hand and ptera = wing.
17. “Megabats” represent one of the 18 families of bats. They live in the Old World tropics and are fruit eaters. Egyptian fruit bats are among the smallest of the Megachiroptera and the only one in that group that uses echolocation. This is the only type of bat echolocation that can be heard by the human ear. (Sounds are made by suddenly releasing the tongue upward from the floor of the mouth rather than the sounds being made in the larynx, the voice box in the throat).
18. About 70% of the world’s fruit is solely pollinated by bats.
19. They are considered symbols of good fortune in some places in the world.
20. Egyptian fruit bats are frugivores, preferring to eat the pulp and juice of very ripe fruit.
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