Northern Blossom-bat

Scientific Name: Macroglossus minimus nanus

Range: Can be found from the Kimberly in Western Australia, across the top of the Northern Territory and into Cape York Queensland. There are limited numbers of this species also found in Asia to the Solomon Islands.

Description: Small in size this flying-fox has a long muzzle and tongue. It's fur is light reddish brown but lighter on the belly. Also, like the Eastern Blossom bat, it has a tail, but smaller, stub like.

Life Span:

Adult Weight: 19.5gms

Forearm Length: 43.0mm

Body Length: 67.0mm     

Roosting Preference:  Roosting alone or in small groups of up to 4, in thick foliage, bamboo thickets, palm fronds, unopened banana leaves and under eaves.

Diet: Mainly feeding on nectar and pollen species, like Melaleuca, Syzygium, Sonneratia and banana blossoms. They will also eat small amounts of fruit from ficus and timonius. Their bats use a lot of energy and enter torpor during the day, which drops their energy consumption by up to 80%.

Reproduction: Young males mature sexually at around 7 months and develop a V shaped sternal gland which produces a prominent odour (similar to the Koala). This little bat can have two pregnancy  a year, sometimes 3. The first, is born between February - March and the second in August - October.

The pup has a fine covering of fur and clings to the mother for up to 10 days before being left in the roost. At 40 days the juvenile is able to fly, but still cling to the mother when she is in the roost until they are at least 6 months old.

Bare-backed fruit bat

Scientific Name: Dobsonia moluccense

Conservation Status: Vulnerable species

Range: They can be found in northern Queensland from Cooktown to Cape York, and in the Torres Island. Small populations in New Guinea Islands.

Description: Different from most flying-foxes. The wing join the mid-line of the back, rather then the sides of the body. Wings have no fur, making the back appear hairless. Their back is furred where deep pockets forms under the wing. Black to brown fur lines the shoulders and back of the head. Their belly is sparsely furred in light grey to brown. They have a short tail and white claws.

Life Span:

Adult Weight: 525gms

Forearm Length:155mm

Body Length: 230mm

Roosting Preference: Living in colony's with as few as 100 individuals, they are the only megabat to roost in caves. They can also be found amidst boulders and disused mines and bunkers.

Diet: Feeding mainly on native fruits and blossoms.

Reproduction: Conception occurs between May - June. During the months of April - June, females develop fleshy folds around the vagina and both sexes develop grands on their shoulders and cheeks. Thought to produce this species musty odour and play a role in courtship.

After a 5 month gestation, a single pup is born during September - November. The mother carries the young while foraging for a relatively short time of a month. Nursed for up to 4 months, weaning takes place during the wet season, during January and February.

Spectacled Flying-fox

© Mnolf

Scientific Name: Pteropus conspicillatus

Conservation Status: Least Concern
     
Range: Found in northern Queensland from Hinchinbrook Island to Cooktown, including Atherton and Windsor Tablelands, Charters Towers. Cape York Peninsula, Torres Straits Islands and limited in Indonesia and New Guinea.

Description: A large black with pale yellow rings of fur around the eyes. The mantle is also pale yellow in colour across the backs of their necks and shoulders. Sometimes found with pale yellow on the mussel and tops of the head. Legs are furred to the knee.
      
Life Span: Up to 17 years in captivity
 
Adult Weight: 800 - 950gms

Forearm Length: 18.0 - 18.3mm

Body Length: 225 - 250mm      

Roosting Preference: Unlikely to be found roosting with other species of bats, the Spectacled flying-fox camps in numbers of many hundreds to thousands in rainforests and evergreen forest trees. They can also be found roosting in Mangroves, Paper-Bark, Acacia and Eucalypt forests.     

Diet: Known to eat up to 35 different types of rainforest fruit, including Ficus, Terminalia, Syzgium, Eugenia and Eucalypt blossoms. Ablizia genus of plants have been eating and fibre is extracted. Light coloured fruit is preferred to darker colours. being easier to spot from the air at night. They are defensive while feeding and will chase off invading bats.

They have been observed landing on the ground to eat fallen fruit after server weather and have also been seen eating scarab beetles. Extracting the exoskeleton like pulp after thoroughly chewing. Strangely enough, they have also drunk sea water.

Reproduction: Mating takes place mainly in March - April. Gestation lasts for 27 weeks and a single pup is born between October - December. Twins have been recorded. 

For the first 4 weeks of life the pup clings to it's mother while she forages for food. After this they are left behind once they are able to thermo-regulate under the watchful eye of elder camp members. 

As the juveniles grow and practise flying nightly until they are able to follow the adults. They are left together in an area until returning with their mother in the early hours of the morning.

At around 5 months, mothers begin weaning from March - to May. Once weaning is completed, they move to an area of camp surrounded by other's their age.

Sexual maturity is reached between 1-4 years of age . Pups born to young females, usually to not survive.

Eastern Blossom Bat

© Les Meade

Scientific Name: Syconycteris australis

Conservation Status: Least Concern    
     
Range: Found from the Cape York Peninsula, along the east coast of QLD and down into NSW to Foster.

Although rare, they can be found in New Guinea, Bismarck Archipelago and Moluccas in Indonesia.
     
Description:  This miniature sized flying-fox has fawn to reddish-brown fur, which is slightly lighter on the belly. It has a large eyes, and long muzzle, raised nostrils and a lengthy tongue. Has no skin flap on the inner leg like most bats but has a strip of fur instead. The NSW (New South Wales) variety is larger then the QLD (Queensland) Eastern Blossom Bat, but the NSW males lack the scent gland found on the chest of the QLD bat.
     
Longevity:    

Adult Weight: 17 - 23gms

Forearm Length: 38 - 43mm

Body Length: 57 - 71mm
     
Roosting Habitats: Most commonly found in canopy of rainforest, they can also be located in the sub-canopy as well. They roost amidst large leaves (dead and live), on saplings or vines. Usually they select a new sight each night but remain with in the same area for the season. In winter they roost near the forest edge to take advantage of the warmth but in summer they move further into the forest to keep cool.

At sunset they leave the roost and can travel up to 4km away while foraging. For 2 - 3 hours they sample food as they move about. They foraging throughout most of the night before returning to the roost shortly before sunrise. They will delay their departure for up to 4 hours if nearing the moonlight.

A combination of coastal rainforest and heathland is essential for this species. Their foraging range is about 13ah in the same areas every night.

In QLD, their normal habitat are rainforests, wet sclerophyll, monsoon and melaleuca forests.
     
Diet: Mainly nectar and pollen eaters, their tongues are long and covered with rows of papillae that acts like a mop absorbing water. Although a valuable food source, they only eat pollen while grooming afterwards. Feeding mostly on Banksia and Callistemon (even if raining), they will chase trespassers by clapping their wings and use vocalisation. Capable of hovering, they usually land to feed where they get covered in pollen. Population sizes depend on food availability, but vary from a single bat to 18 per hectare.

Reproduction: Conception occurs in the months of June and May and gestation lasts for 4 months. A single pup is born in the months of  October and November and another in February to April.

Eastern blossom bats can enter brief periods of torpor (hibernation) while pregnant. Their metabolic rate is reduced to less than half of their normal rate.

Eastern Tube-nosed Bat

© Mnolf

Scientific Name: Nyctimene robinsoni

Conservation Status: Least Concern 
     
Range: Found from the Cape York Peninsula and Torres Strait, along the east coast of QLD and down into NSW.

They can be found in New Guinea under different names.
     
Description: This fruit bat is discernable by its elongated protruding cylinder like nostrils. They have yellow spots speckled across their wings and ears. Fur is grey to reddish brown with noticeable slender black bands along the spine.

Upper incisors are present but are absent on the lower jaw. The lower canines are quite cute in appearance. The tail is quite long (max 24mm) and while flying they make a noticeable whistling call.

In QLD during the night they can be heard in the forest, and in NSW they only call out in the warmer months, usually between October to April.
     
Life Span:

Adult Weight: 42 - 60gms

Forearm Length: 38 - 43mm

Body Length: 82 - 93mm
     
Roosting Preference: During the day, these bats can be found roosting with their wings wrapped around foliage. Even when quite exposed they can be hard to detect.

Normally, they roost alone, but groups of up to five have been discovered roosting together.

Individuals commonly roost in the same place each day for years, while others with roost in the tree they were feeding in prier to dawn.
     
Diet: They feed on plump fruit from both the under storey of rainforests and canopy tree and particularly like Ficus, Eugenia, Syzigium and Randia sessilis. Fruit is consumed on the spot or carried away. Their large wings enable them to carry fruit up to 30gms in size. They can hover and turn in mid-air while manoeuvring in thick vegetation.

In NSW their nightly foraging is usually within 200m of their roost, while in QLD they travel further, usually up to 500m, and up to 1km from the roost.

They often forage up in the canopy over 20m above the ground in rainforest trees like, Bangalow palm, Mistletoe, and Eucalyptus blossom. While feeding they hold the fruit against their chest and use their thumb claws to keep the fruit in place.

Reproduction: During the months of October & December, they give birth to a single pup. Females carry their young until fairly heavy. Lactating mother have been caught in November & December.

Little Red Flying-fox

© Les Meade

Scientific Name: Pteropus scapulatus

Conservation Status: Least Concern   
     
Range: Wide spread across most of Australia, the smallest of our flying-foxes and the most nomadic. Little reds may be found in northern Victoria, along the east coast of Australia, across the Northern Territory and down in to Western Australia.

Following native species as they come into bloom the little red, can travel vast distances, which take them across many river systems and arid regions.

In 1968 & again in 1986, little reds have been seen as far inland as northern South Australia. In 1927 there was even a sighting in New Zealand. Little red have also been noted as far north as the south coast of Papua New Guinea.
     
Description: The smallest of our Australian flying-foxes, the Little Red, named for it's colour, has reddish to light brown fur and hairless legs. The head has grey flecks that can extend down the back. Creamy yellow patches cover the back of the neck and shoulder to the elbow. Wing membrane, is a reddish-brown colouring and appears semi-transparent when extended for flight. Exposed flesh has a similar reddish-brown colouration.
     
Life Span:   16 years
  
Adult Weight: 300 - 600gms

Forearm Length: 120 - 140mm

Body Length: 195 - 235mm
     
Roosting Preference: Because of the little reds' nomadic life style, they move according to the availability of food. In summer months their temporary camp usually only occupied for 4 - 6 weeks, can being as high as 1,000,000 closely packed little individuals.

Unlike other flying-fox species, little reds' prefer to huddle tightly together. These clusters can actually break branches as thick as 20cm in diameter.

Little reds' have a broad range of habitats and can be found in tropical and subtropical forest, semi-arid regions, paper-bark swamps and monsoon forests, which are commonly found beside water.
     
Diet: Principally nectivorous, little reds' will feed on blossoms from most trees and shrubs. Because of the erratic flowering of Eucalypt trees and environment conditions, they have learnt to take advantage of what is available. Besides blossoms, little red's diet includes fruit, sap & insects. When times are tough, they will take advantage of commercial fruit crops. More on what Little Red flying-foxes eat can be found here.
     
Reproduction: Conception occurs in the months of November to January and gestation lasts for 5 months. Males have a harem of 2-5 females and will defend them from other suitors. A single pup is born in the months of April to May.

For the first several weeks the pup is highly dependent on their mother. The father plays no role in raising the young. Unable to thermo regulate, they cling to the nipple for security while the mother forages for food on nightly flights. If the pup lets go of the nipple, this could me certain death.

Around four to five weeks of age, pups begin thermo-regulate and are left behind in the camp, rather reluctantly by the mother, under the watchful eye of the elder members of the camp. Upon returning, the female will suckle the pup during the day. If not feeding too far from the camp, the female may return to suckle the pup during the night.

Young flying-foxes are capable of flight from about 8 weeks of age, but remain dependant on their mother for another 3 months while learning where to find food. Pups are not weaned until for several months and live semi-independent lives while learning skills they will see them through the rest of the lives.

Sexual maturity is reached around 18 months of age.

Grey-headed Flying-fox

© Les Meade

Scientific Name: Pteropus poliocephalus

Conservation Status: Vulnerable species

Range: Grey-headed flying-foxes can be found across the coastal tropics and subtropical area of Australia. Their range is ever expanding southward due to habitat loss and global warming and they have now been seen as far as Tasmania.

Description: Shaggy grey to frosted silver fur covers body and extends right down the legs. Collar of golden fur completely encircles the neck. Face is lighter than the body. Wings black, opaque.

Life Span: Up to 20 years in the wild - 30 in captivity

Adult Weight: 600 - 1000gms

Forearm Length: 140 - 175mm

Body Length: 230 - 280mm

Roosting Preferences: By day flying-foxes roost in large communal camps, preferably within close proximity of rivers and creeks. Often found in dense vegetation such as rainforests, melaleuca swamps, gum trees and mangroves. Depending on food availability camp may be occupied all year round or seasonally. A single camp can contain hundreds to tens of thousands of animals at any time of the year depending on food availability.

Camp numbers have been known to dramatically increase in size due to the arrival of the nomadic, little red flying-foxes. Flying-foxes move between camps in surrounding areas over a period of days and can travel up to hundreds of kilometres. The Grey-headed flying-fox has even been reported travelling great distances between Australia and Papua New Guinea via the Torres Straits.

New camps can also be established due to the destruction of traditional camps or the harassment of nearby residents and today there are roughly 55 known sites in New South Wales (NSW). Flying-foxes display strong links to traditional camps, which have been used long before European settlement.

A number of camps described in the early 1930's are still being used today. For instance, Maclean, Susan Island (Grafton), and Currie Park (Lismore)
     
Diet: The Grey-headed flying-fox is a nectarivorous animal and feed mainly on native blossoms and fruit. They has also been noted to feed on small amounts of leaves and bark.

Native fruits in the flying-fox diet includes fruit from the Gymnospermae & Angiospermae family.

Native blossoms in the flying-fox diet include blossoms from the Fabaceae, Myrtaceae & Proteaceae family.

Exotic fruit in the flying-fox diet include, Mangos, Custard Apples, Papaya, Persimmons, Camphor Laurel, Mulberry, Banana, Guava, Large-leaved Privet, Small-leaved Privet, Cocos Palms, Passionfruit, Apples, Peaches, Nectarines, Plums, Mandarin, Oranges, Lychees, Wild Tobacco, Chinese Elm and Grapes.

Flying-foxes have been seen eating the leaves of Grey Mangrove and Poplar. When times are tough, they will take advantage of commercial fruit crops. More on what Grey-headed flying-foxes eat can be found here.
     
Reproduction: Conception occurs in the months of April and May and gestation lasts for 6 months. A single pup is born in the months of September and November, though some have been born as late as December and January. Records have shown that mating can take place all year round.

For the first several weeks the pup is highly dependent on their mother. The father plays no role in raising the young. Unable to thermo regulate, they cling to the nipple for security while the mother forages for food on nightly flights. If the pup lets go of the nipple, this could me certain death.

Around four to five weeks of age, pups begin thermo-regulate and are left behind in the camp, rather reluctantly by the mother, under the watchful eye of the elder members of the camp. Upon returning, the female will suckle the pup during the day. If not feeding too far from the camp, the female may return to suckle the pup during the night.

Young flying-foxes are capable of flight from about 8 weeks of age, but remain dependant on their mother for another 3 months while learning where to find food. Pups are not weaned until 4 to 6 months of age.

Sexual maturity is reached between 2-3 years of age.

Black Flying-fox

© Jane Fearby

Scientific Name: Pteropus alecto

Conservation Status: Least Concern 

Range: Black flying-foxes can be found across the coastal and subtropical areas of Australia, including parts of New Guinea and Indonesia. Their range is ever expanding southward due to habitat loss and global warming. They can now be found as far south as Sydney on the east coast of New South Wales and Shark Bay on the west coast of Perth.

Life Span: Up to 20 years in the wild, 30 in captivity

Adult Weight: 500 - 1000 gms

Forearm Length: 155 - 190 mm
 

Body Length: 240 - 260 mm

Roosting Preference: By day flying-foxes roost in large communal camps, preferably within close proximity of rivers and creeks. Often found in dense vegetation such as rainforests, melaleuca swamps, gum trees and mangroves. Depending on food availability, camps may be occupied all year round or seasonally. A single camp can contain hundreds to tens of thousands of animals at any one time of the year, depending of food availability.

Camp numbers have been known to dramatically increase in size due to the arrival of the nomadic, Little Red flying-fox. Flying-foxes move between camps, in surrounding areas over a period of days and can travel up to hundreds of kilometres. The black flying-fox has even been reported travelling great distances between Australian and Papua New Guinea via the Torres Straits.

New camps can also be established due to the destruction of traditional camps or harassment of nearby residents and today there are roughly 55 known sites in New South Wales (NSW). Flying-foxes display strong links to traditional camps, which have been used long before European settlement.

A number of camps described in the early 1930's are still being used today. For instance, Maclean, Susan Island (Grafton), and Currie Park (Lismore).

Diet: The Black flying-fox are nectarivores and feed mainly on native blossoms and fruit. They has also been noted to feed on small amounts of leaves and bark.

Native fruits in the flying-fox diet includes fruit from the Gymnospermae & Angiospermae family.

Native blossoms in the flying-fox diet include blossoms from the Fabaceae, Myrtaceae & Proteaceae family.

Exotic fruit in the flying-fox diet include, Mangos, Custard Apples, Papaya, Persimmons, Camphor Laurel, Mulberry, Banana, Guava, Large-leaved Privet, Small-leaved Privet, Cocos Palms, Passionfruit, Apples, Peaches, Nectarines, Plums, Mandarin, Oranges, Lychees, Wild Tobacco, Chinese Elm and Grapes.

Flying-foxes have been seen eating the leaves of Grey Mangrove and Poplar. When times are tough, they will take advantage of commercial fruit crops.

Reproduction: Conception occurs in the months of April and May and gestation lasts for 6 months. A single pup is born in the months of September and November, though some have been born as late as December and January. Records have shown that mating can take place all year round.

For the first several weeks the pup is highly dependent on their mother. The father plays no role in raising the young. Unable to thermo regulate, they cling to the nipple for security while the mother forages for food on nightly flights. If the pup lets go of the nipple, this could me certain death.

Around four to five weeks of age, pups begin thermo-regulate and are left behind in the camp, rather reluctantly by the mother, under the watchful eye of the elder members of the camp. Upon returning, the female will suckle the pup during the day. If not feeding too far from the camp, the female may return to suckle the pup during the night.

Young flying-foxes are capable of flight from about 8 weeks of age, but remain dependant on their mother for another 3 months while learning where to find food. Pups are not weaned until 4 to 6 months of age.

Sexual maturity is reached between 2-3 years of age.

Myths & Facts

 This list will be updated as needed

Myth - Bat's don't have an anus and defecate out of their mouths.

Fact - Bats are mammals and do have an anus. 

What people view as them defecting out of their mouths is left over pulp. Bats chew the life out of fruit, extracting all the juice they can before spitting the pulp out.

Myth - Bats are dirty

Fact - Bats are very clean animals.

Like all animals, Bat's clean themselves daily, even after feeding.

Myth - Scout's flying out in search of food for the colony.

Fact - There is no such thing as a scout bat.

What people perceive as "scout bats" are in fact female flying-foxes. They head out first in search of food while the males remained behind at the colony reluctant to give up their position in the tree. Males are territorial.

Myth - Bats drink blood

Fact - The Vampire bat is the only species of Bat to drink blood.

There are three species of Vampire Bat, all native to the Americas. The Common Vampire Bat, the Hairy-legged Vampire Bat and the White-winged Vampire Bat. They mainly feed on live stock, such as pigs, goats, cows, horses and chickens. Occasionally though, humans have been known to be bitten. There are no Vampire Bats in Australia.

Myth - Bats will flying into your hair.
Fact - Bats won't intentionally fly at you, to attack.

Bats will flying around you, trying to catch insects nearby but not to attack.

Myth - Bats are blind
Fact - All bats can see quite well. Megabats have large eyes to help them local night flowering blossoms. Microbats have echolocation which they use to locate prey and can see quite well.

Many species of plant life have evolved to flower specifically at night to attract Bats.

Myth -  Bats only live in caves
Fact -  Some species of Microbats do live in caves, but not all of them.

Some choose to live in the hollows of trees, sheds, beach umbrellas, even in roofs. If and object, man made or not can protect them from they weather and predators, Microbats will use it. Megabats on the other hand prefer trees as their roost.

Myth - Bat faeces can strip paint
Fact -  If left on long enough, yes it may.

Bird droppings are actually more corrosive than a flying-fox.

Myth - Bats are cold and clammy
Fact - Bats are warm blooded and thermo-regulate just like humans.

In winter when some Microbats hibernate, they will feel cold to the touch.

Myth - Bats are pests and don't serve a purpose
Fact - Flying-foxes and Blossom Bats play a crucial roll in the environment.

They cross pollinate and disperse the seeds of over 60,000 native plants in our forest. Without them, many of our natives plants would fail to survive. Microbats eat their own body weight in insects every night.

Myth - All Bats have Rabies
Fact -  A very small percentage of Bats do carry the rabies like disease, known as "Australian Lyssavirus".

Out of all the species of Bats in Australia, less than 1% of the wild population has Lyssavirus. You are more likely to be hit by a car crossing the road, than contracting this disease.

Myth - You can catch Lyssavirus from breathing the same air as Bats.
Fact - You can't catch Lyssavirus just from breathing the same air as a Bat.

Lyssavirus can only be caught if you are scratched or bitten and only if the Bats have this disease. You can not catch it, simply by breathing the same air or touching their faeces. If you don't touch Bats, then you can't get Lyssavirus.

If you do get bitten or scratched, wash the wound thoroughly with soap for at least 5 minutes and contact your doctor who will contact the Department of Human Services to arrange appropriate treatment that may include vaccination or booster vaccination.

Intro

Bono aged 25 days

Over the years I've been caring for Flying-foxes and Microbats, I've come to learn a lot of things. One is that a lot people believe the many untruths about them being circulated.

So I've decided to set up this blog in order to dispel the myths and provide information on all these truly wonderful and environmentally friendly animals.

On the last day of creation God had finished all his tasks,

He had some bits left over, what to do with these spare parts?

Some soft and downy fur and wings, exquisitely from silk.

"I'll make a loving creature and it's young shall drink it's milk.

It will live it's life so gently, not a thing shall it cause strife.

It will lick the vital nectar, and spread seeds that give us life

I'll make it in a family, with bonds complex and warm

Instinctively in unison, the night skies they will swarm"

And God gazed upon this creature and his soul was in its eyes

And he rested then, and sighed, at last, completely satisfied.

Jan Martin

References:  

Roberts, B.J.
(2006). Management of Urban Flying-fox Camps:
Issues of Relevance to Camps in the Lower Clarence,
NSW. Valley Watch Inc., Maclean.

Sue Churchill
Australian Bats (Second Edition)

The Flying-fox Manual - 2009
Dave Pinson - StickeeBatz Publishing

Wikipedia

All information on this blog is copyright to Jane Fearby/batty4bats unless otherwise stated, and may not be reproduced/printed without written permission