Beautiful, Beneficial Bats!

Who could resist that furry face?! This bat is named Pteropus giganteus, or the Indian Flying Fox. It is a fruit eating bat, and it happens to be one of my favorite animals. It occurs in tropical regions of South Central Asia, inhabiting forests and swamps where they roost in trees such as banyan, fig, and tamarind. They can live to be in their early thirties, although usually not quite that long in the wild. They are a vocal species, chattering and squawking when threatened. Unlike many bat species, Flying Fox’s have good eyesight and rely on their vision when flying rather than hearing or echolocation. As the term “fruit bat” suggests, they eat a variety of fruit, blossoms, and nectar with an occasional insect for protein. They are beneficial animals in part because they play a role in seed dispersal and pollination. (The Flying Fox Manual)

From pollination to pest control, the Flying Fox isn’t the only beneficial bat. Bats that feed upon agricultural pests like root worms act as a natural pest control. By reducing the need for pesticides, bats protect the environment and lower costs for farmers. Bats also help control mosquitoes and other night-flying insects, and who wants to be ambushed by swarms of mosquitoes every time you walk out the door. (Bat Conservation International)

The world’s smallest bat definitely has the cute factor, it is the Bumblebee Bat (Craseonycteris thonglongyai) from Thailand. Weighing less than a penny at 2 ounces, it is also the smallest mammal in the world. It’s wingspan can be up to 17cm which is suprising for such a small animal.  Sadly, Bumblebee bats are now considered to be one of the twelve most endangered species on the planet, being declared as such only a few years after thier discovery in 1974. The total population is estimated at two hundred individuals. (Bumblebee Bats)