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.