Cave nectar bat facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cave nectar bat |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Eonycteris
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| Species: |
spelaea
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| Cave nectar bat range | |
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The cave nectar bat (Eonycteris spelaea) is a type of megabat. It is also known by names like the dawn bat or common nectar bat. These bats are special because they love to drink nectar from flowers. They were first described by George Edward Dobson in 1871.
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What They Look Like
The cave nectar bat has fur that can be grey-brown, dark brown, or even black on its back. Its belly is usually a lighter color. Sometimes, its neck might look yellowish-brown. This bat has a long snout, which is perfect for reaching deep into flowers to sip nectar. It also has a small tail.
From head to body, these bats are about 8.5–11 cm (3.3–4.3 in) long. Their tail is quite short, around 1.5–1.8 cm (0.59–0.71 in). Their forearm, which is part of their wing, measures about 6–7 cm (2.4–2.8 in).
Where They Live and What They Do
Cave nectar bats live in many places across Asia. You can find them in old forests and also in areas changed by farming or cities. They often sleep in caves in very large groups. Some groups can have over 50,000 bats! They sometimes share their roosts with other bat species.
These bats travel many kilometers each night. They fly far to find flowering trees and shrubs. They are very important for pollinating many plants. This includes fruit trees like durians, bananas, and jackfruit. They help these plants make new seeds and fruits. In fact, they pollinate up to 55 different kinds of plants.
The bats tend to pollinate plants that are close to where they live. This makes them very important for farms and urban areas. The number of cave nectar bats is stable, so they are not considered endangered.
Where They Are Found
Eonycteris spelaea lives in many countries in Asia. This includes Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, China, India, and Timor-Leste. They have been seen in many specific caves and regions within these countries.
Conservation Status
In some places, like Cambodia, Myanmar, and the Philippines, these bats are hunted for food.
Why Scientists Study Them
Scientists have recently studied the genes of the cave nectar bat. This bat is a good animal to study because it is small and eats nectar. It can also fly well and have babies one or two times a year.
Scientists have found that these bats can carry many different viruses. These include filoviruses and coronaviruses. However, the bats do not seem to get sick from these viruses. This makes them very interesting for research.
