Livingstone's fruit bat facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Livingstone's fruit bat |
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| Conservation status | |
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Pteropus
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livingstonii
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| Livingstone's fruit bat range | |
The Livingstone's fruit bat (Pteropus livingstonii), also known as the Comoro flying fox, is a very large bat. It's a type of fruit bat found only on the islands of Anjouan and Mohéli. These islands are part of the Comoros, located in the western Indian Ocean.
This bat is the biggest and rarest bat living in the Comoros. It likes to live in mountain forests. These forests are found high up, over 200 meters (about 650 feet) on Mohéli and over 500 meters (about 1,600 feet) on Anjouan. Losing these forests is a big danger to the bats.
In 2003, experts thought there were only about 1,200 of these bats left. Other dangers include big storms, hunting, and trouble finding new homes if their old ones are destroyed. The black-bearded flying fox is thought to be a close relative of the Livingstone's fruit bat.
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Physical Appearance of the Livingstone's Fruit Bat
Livingstone's fruit bats are mostly black. They often have some golden or brownish-yellow hairs on their back, belly, and sides. The amount of golden hair can be different for each bat. Some might have a golden stripe or patches, while others are completely black.
Their wings are black and have no hair. Their legs, nose, and large, round ears are also black. A special thing about them is their big, orange or red eyes. This shows they have very good eyesight.
These bats weigh about 500 to 800 grams (about 1 to 1.7 pounds). Their body is about 30 centimeters (12 inches) long. Their wings can spread up to 1.4 meters (about 4.6 feet) wide! Males and females look very similar.
They fly slowly, flapping their wings a lot. They often fly in circles to get higher in the air. Unlike bats that hunt at night, they can also glide on warm air currents during the day.
Where Livingstone's Fruit Bats Live
Livingstone's fruit bat lives only on two islands: Anjouan and Mohéli. These islands are part of the Comoros, located between Africa and northern Madagascar. They live in mountain forests. On Mohéli, they are found above 200 meters (650 feet). On Anjouan, they live above 500 meters (1,600 feet).
All their current roosting spots are in a specific height range. They are always found where there are native and special trees. The biggest groups live in old, dense forests. These bats seem to prefer roosting in certain trees. These include the Nuxia pseudodentata and Gambeya species.
They often choose roosting sites on steep slopes, near valleys with water, and facing southeast. This helps protect them from wind and the midday sun. Right now, there are only 15 known roosting sites on Anjouan and six on Mohéli.
Livingstone's Fruit Bat Behaviour
In places where they are kept, like zoos, a group of these bats might have one main male. This male can live with up to eight female bats that have babies.
Livingstone's flying foxes are active both during the day and at night. They are most active between 10 PM and 2 AM. They usually fly to a feeding spot a few hours before it gets dark. They use warm air currents from the day to help them fly. Then, they hang from trees before they start eating after nightfall.
They look for food mostly in the top parts of the forest trees. Other fruit bats in the Comoros, like the Seychelles fruit bat, look for food lower down.
The Livingstone's fruit bat eats many things. Their diet includes fruit, pollen, nectar, seeds, and leaves. In captivity, they have even been seen hunting and eating moths.
They protect their feeding areas from other bats. They make chattering sounds and clap their wings. They might also chase other bats, sometimes even clawing or biting them. When they are scared, they make squeaking sounds or a deep series of "clucks."
Reproduction and Life Cycle
After mating, pregnant female bats move to special maternity roost sites. They go there to give birth and raise their young until they are grown. They usually have one baby at a time, often in early September.
The baby bats are born with all their fur and their eyes open. They have big feet which they use to hold onto their mothers right after birth. Young bats start to look for their own food when they are about 2.5 to 5 months old. Male bats begin to claim their own territories when they are about 6 months old.
Protecting the Livingstone's Fruit Bat
The Livingstone's fruit bat is listed as a critically endangered species. This means it is at very high risk of becoming extinct. It is also protected under an international agreement called CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species).
In 1995, a plan was made to help these bats. This plan included doing more research, teaching local communities about the bats, and training people to watch over them. A group called Action Comoros started this plan. They created education programs to help people learn about the bats. The goals were to raise awareness, share knowledge, and make locals proud of their bats. These plans help in the short term and build a strong base for long-term protection.
A special program was started in 1992 to breed these bats in captivity. This program is run by the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust. Having bats in captivity could save the species from disappearing completely. Many efforts are being made to help the Livingstone's fruit bat survive.
However, as more people live on the Comoros islands, more forests are being cut down. The Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust has warned that if the bats' natural home is not protected, they could become extinct very soon.
The breeding program now includes other places, like the Bristol Zoo. Between 1999 and 2013, 30 baby bats were born at Bristol Zoo, and 23 of them survived. In 2016, the Durrell colony had a good year, with six babies born by mid-June. The Bristol Zoo and the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust regularly swap male bats. This helps keep the bats' genes varied and prevents problems from breeding too closely. Some male bats that are not breeding have been sent to the Chester Zoo and the Zürich Zoologischer Garten.
Because it is so endangered, the Livingstone's fruit bat is listed by the Alliance for Zero Extinction. This means it is a species in danger of disappearing forever.
