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.