Wildlifeof Sri Lanka
Indian Flying Fox
Bats
Photo: Ken-ichi Ueda · CC BY 4.0 (May be cropped or resized)
Pteropus medius
Basic stats
Diet
Ripe fruit such as mangoes, guavas and figs; flower nectar
Habitat
Colonies on open tree branches, often in towns and temple grounds
Litter size
1-2
Gestation period
140-150 days
Weight
0.6-1.6kg
The Indian flying fox is a large bat with a black back lightly streaked with grey, a pale yellow-brown mantle, a brown head and dark brownish underparts. It has large eyes and simple ears, and no tail. It weighs 0.6 to 1.6 kg, with a wingspan of 1.2 to 1.5 m, and males are generally larger (Wikipedia, general species account).
It eats ripe fruit, such as mangoes, guavas and figs, and flower nectar, and seeds passing through it help spread many plants. It roosts in large long-lived colonies on open branches, especially in towns and temples, often occupied all year. Breeding is annual, gestation 140 to 150 days, with one or two pups (Wikipedia, general species account). Nationally Least Concern (Sri Lanka National Red List 2012).
Quick answers
- What does the Indian Flying Fox eat?
- Ripe fruit such as mangoes, guavas and figs; flower nectar
- What habitat does the Indian Flying Fox live in?
- Colonies on open tree branches, often in towns and temple grounds
- What is the litter size of the Indian Flying Fox?
- 1-2
- How long is the gestation period of the Indian Flying Fox?
- 140-150 days
- How much does the Indian Flying Fox weigh?
- 0.6-1.6kg