How big are fruit bats in Australia?

The Australian mainland has four species of flying fox — also known as fruit bats — two of which are listed as nationally protected species. Some can reach a wingspan of 1.5 meters.

How old do fruit bats live?

Although most bats live less than 20 years in the wild, scientists have documented six species that life more than 30 years.

How big is a fruit bat colony?

These bats tend to be among the most sociable of all mammals. With the exception of a few solitary species, their social arrangement usually revolves around large groups of up to 200,000 individuals.

Are bats aggressive?

All healthy bats try to avoid humans by taking flight and are not purposely aggressive. Most bats are about the size of a mouse and use their small teeth and weak jaws to grind up insects. Less than one percent of the bat population contracts rabies, which is a much lower rate of incidence than other mammals.

Do bats bite?

When do bats bite? Normally bats, like most mammals, bite only in self-defense. Even the three species of vampire bats that bite to eat (drink) blood also bite in self-defense. Bats expressing clinical signs of furious rabies may bite indiscriminately and without provocation (see below).

How big can a fruit bat grow up to?

Known to some as the golden-capped fruit bat, and to others as the golden-crowned flying fox ( Acerodon jubatus ), it has a wingspan of up to 5.5 feet, according to the Encyclopedia of Life. But these giants are light, weighing just about 2.6 lbs. (1.2 kg), according to the IUCN.

What are facts about fruit bats?

Fruit bats are much larger than the microbats found in the United States. Also referred to as megabats or flying foxes, fruit bats have a thick furry coat, long snouts, large eyes and pointy ears. Some species of fruit bats can have a wingspan of up to 6 feet, according to the National Wildlife Federation .

What is the largest bat ever recorded?

The largest bat is the flying fox ( Pteropus giganteus ), an Old World bat found on tropical islands from Sri Lanka east. A large adult weighs about 1.2 kilograms, with a wingspan of almost 2 meters (about 6 feet).

How tall are fruit bat?

Some of the smallest members of the family are the pollen- and nectar-eating long-tongued fruit bats ( Macroglossus ), which attain a head and body length of about 6-7 cm (2.4-2.8 inches) and a wingspan of about 25 cm (10 inches). Colour varies among the pteropodids; some are red or yellow, some striped or spotted.