Peters's dwarf epauletted fruit bat facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Peters's dwarf epauletted fruit bat
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Chiroptera
Family:	Pteropodidae
Genus:	Micropteropus
Species:	M. pusillus
Binomial name
Micropteropus pusillus (Peters, 1867)
Peters's dwarf epauletted fruit bat range
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The Peters's dwarf epauletted fruit bat (Micropteropus pusillus) is a type of megabat. These bats are part of the Pteropodidae family, which includes many fruit bats. You can find this bat in many countries across Africa. These include 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, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, and Zambia.

This bat likes to live in warm, wet places. Its natural homes are tropical lowland forests and moist savanna areas.

About the Peters's Dwarf Epauletted Fruit Bat

The Peters's dwarf epauletted fruit bat is one of two species in its group, called Micropteropus. Both male and female bats of this species have special white tufts near their ears. This helps tell them apart from other bats.

If you compare this bat to its close relative, Micropteropus intermedius, you'll notice it's smaller. Its fur is also different. The fur on its back is usually thicker and a darker brown. The fur on its belly is often lighter.

Male and Female Differences

It's easy to tell male and female Peters's dwarf epauletted fruit bats apart. Males have special ear tufts that can stand up. A small muscle helps these tufts move. Females are usually a bit bigger than males. They can be about ten percent heavier. This size difference also shows in their wingspan, head length, and ear length. Even though females are larger, this bat is still one of the smaller mammals in the Megachiroptera group.

Where They Live and What They Eat

Their Environment

The Peters's dwarf epauletted fruit bat lives only in Africa. You won't find it in northern Africa. These bats do not migrate, meaning they don't fly long distances to different places. This is because their wings are not shaped for long journeys.

They prefer to live in tropical forests and woodlands. Since they live in warm, tropical areas, they don't need to hibernate. This means they can look for food all year long. Being active all year helps the plants in their environment. The bats help pollinate plants in every season.

What They Eat

The Peters's dwarf epauletted fruit bat enjoys a varied diet. It eats nectar from flowers, fruits, and even insects. When the bat drinks nectar, it touches the plant's pollen. This helps the plant spread its pollen, which is called pollination. This is a helpful partnership between the bats and the plants.

While their pollination is good for the environment, their love for fruit can sometimes cause problems for farms. They might eat crops in areas where they live. Unlike most other bats, Micropteropus pusillus does not use echolocation to find insects. Echolocation is like using sound waves to "see." Scientists first thought these bats mainly ate nectar and fruit. But now, we have pictures of them eating moths too!

Life Cycle and Health

Reproduction and Life Cycle

Peters's dwarf epauletted fruit bats usually mate and have babies when there is plenty of fruit available. This happens during the two rainy seasons each year. One rainy season is from March to May, and the other is from September to November.

Choosing these times helps the female bats. They need extra food and energy when they are pregnant and feeding their young. Males have special body parts that let them make high-pitched sounds. These sounds help them attract a mate.

Their Immune System

Bats are known to carry many viruses. However, these viruses often do not make the bats sick. This is because bats have very strong immune systems. The Peters's dwarf epauletted fruit bat has been found to carry special protective substances called antibodies. These antibodies can fight off certain viruses.

Scientists have studied these bats and found that they have strong defenses against various germs. Because these bats eat a lot of fruit, they sometimes come into contact with people in farming areas.