Spotted-winged fruit bat facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Spotted-winged fruit bat |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Chiroptera |
| Family: | Pteropodidae |
| Genus: | Balionycteris |
| Species: |
B. maculata
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| Binomial name | |
| Balionycteris maculata (Thomas, 1893)
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| Spotted-winged fruit bat range | |
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The spotted-winged fruit bat (Balionycteris maculata) is an amazing mammal known as the smallest megabat in the entire world! Even though many megabats, like flying foxes, are famous for being huge, this tiny creature can easily rest inside a human hand. Zoologist Oldfield Thomas first described this bat for science in the year 1893. Today, these gentle animals live in the warm, lush tropical forests of Southeast Asia.
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What Does the Spotted-winged Fruit Bat Look Like?
Spotted-winged fruit bats are unusually small when compared to their giant bat cousins. An adult has a body length of only about 5.2 to 6.2 cm (2.0 to 2.4 in). Its wingspan stretches to around 28 cm (11 in), and it weighs just 13 g (0.46 oz), which is lighter than an empty soda can!
Thick blackish-brown fur covers the bat's head and back, keeping it warm in the damp air. Its belly fur is lighter, showing a soft grey-brown shade. The most exciting feature of this animal is its wings. The dark brown flight membranes are decorated with distinctive pale cream spots. These neat spots shine brightest around the joints, creating a pattern that helps the bat blend into sun-dappled leaves.
Scientists measure how bats fly using numbers like wing shape proportions and weight carried by wings. These measurements show that the spotted-winged fruit bat is built for slow, careful flights inside crowded bushes. Its large eyes give it excellent night vision, and its ears have a smooth shape unlike those of insect-hunting microbats. Its nostrils stick out sideways like little tubes, helping it sniff out tasty snacks.
Where Does the Spotted-winged Fruit Bat Live?
These tiny mammals make their homes across Southeast Asia. They live throughout Malaysia and the peaceful nation of Brunei. They also thrive on the large island of Borneo in Indonesia. Travelers have spotted them in the Trang Province of Thailand, as well as on the island of Sumatra and the Riau Archipelago.
Rainforest and Mangrove Habitats
Spotted-winged fruit bats love deep, undisturbed wilderness. They spend their time in ancient primary rainforests up to 1,500 m (4,900 ft) above sea level. They also enjoy coastal mangrove swamps where thick roots touch the water. The shady layers of these woods provide plenty of hiding spots from predators.
Unique Nesting and Roosting Sites
Most bats simply hang upside down from open tree branches or cave walls. Spotted-winged fruit bats do something far more unusual. They carve out roosting dens inside the thick root balls of hanging air plants like ferns! Sometimes, they even make homes inside the safe, earthy mounds built by tree ants and termites.
Behavior, Diet, and Life Cycle
Spotted-winged fruit bats wake up at dusk to search for food in the forest understory. They fly quietly through the lower branches, looking for small treats. Unlike many bats that fly in large flocks, these animals prefer to hunt alone.
What Do They Eat?
These bats eat mostly sweet plant foods, making them essential seed spreaders for their forest homes.
- Wild figs that grow along tree trunks
- Juicy tropical fruits like the persimmon
- Small insects and spiders snatched from leafy twigs
While foraging, they call out with high-pitched "peep" sounds. When resting together in their cozy dens, they make musical chirps and clicks to chat with their friends. They rarely fly more than 1 km (0.62 mi) away from home during their nightly trips.
Reproduction and Growth of Young Bats
Spotted-winged fruit bats live in small family groups. A typical roost includes one adult male, up to nine females, and their babies. The male watches over the roost and protects the site from rivals.
Mother bats give birth to a single baby up to twice every year, usually between June and January. The pregnancy lasts about 135 days. When a baby is born, it is completely blind and weighs only 3.5 g (0.12 oz). The mother cares for her pup and feeds it milk for 40 to 80 days. Once the young bat reaches 5 g (0.18 oz), its wing muscles are strong enough for flight. Young females grow up fast and become full adults when they reach ten months of age.
