Egyptian Fruit Bat Rousettus aegyptiacus
Description
The Egyptian Fruit Bat is a fairly small species that is only 9 inches long with a wingspread of 16 to 20 inches and weighing 3 to 6 ounces. Males are noticeably larger then females. The coloring is uniformly brownish with the underparts lighter. Egyptian Fruit Bats have a muzzle that is long and pointed. Their eyes are large and their ears, which are simple and erect, are constantly in motion.
Egyptian Fruit Bats roost in tombs, temples, rock crevices, trees, and caves. They do not echolocate, find items by use of sound, very well so they are never far from the entrance when they inhabit a cave.
They may fly 20 to 25 miles a night from where they roost to their feeding grounds. The feeding grounds may change continuously as trees fruit and flower. Some colonies may make short migrations. When roosting these bats are crowded together and disputes are common and noisy.
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Range
Egyptian fruit bats can be found from Pakistan to Egypt and Africa, south of the Sahara.
Habitat
Egyptian fruit bats inhabit a wide variety of habitats, wherever there is fruit and flowers.
Gestation
Gestation is 115 - 120 days
Litter
Egyptian fruit bats have 1 or 2 young.
Behavior
Egyptian fruit bats roost in tombs, temples, rock crevices, trees and caves. In caves they are never far from the entrance probably because they do not echolocate very well. They may fly 20-25 miles a night from the roost to feeding grounds. The feeding grounds change continuously as trees fruit and flower. Some colonies are known to make short migrations. When roosting, these bats crowd together touching one another. Disputes are common and noisy.
Reproduction
Egyptian Fruit Bats can have one to two litters a year. In South Africa births occur from October to December. Females carry a pup for six weeks old. By early March the young are weaned and able to fly on their own. Elsewhere in Africa births occur twice a year with no peak period. Female pups mature in about 5 months but males take 15 months to mature. The median life span is 8-10 years.
Diet (Wild)
Fruit juices and flower nectar
Diet (Zoo)
Bananas, grapes, apples, fruit in season
Conservation Status
Least Concern
Primary Threats
Hawk and falcons are predators.
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