Pteropus giganteus
| Indian flying fox | |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Chiroptera |
| Family: | Pteropodidae |
| Genus: | Pteropus |
| Species: | P. giganteus |
| Binomial name | |
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Pteropus giganteus (Brünnich, 1782) |
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| Indian flying fox range | |
| Synonyms | |
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Pteropus ariel Allen, 1908 |
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Pteropus ariel Allen, 1908
Pteropus assamensis McClelland, 1839
Pteropus edwardsi I. Geoffroy, 1828
Pteropus kelaarti Gray, 1871
Pteropus leucocephalus Hodgson, 1835
Pteropus medius Temminck, 1825
Pteropus ruvicollis Ogilby, 1840 [misspelt rubricollis or rubicollis]
Vespertilio gigantea Brunnich, 1782
The Indian flying fox (Pteropus giganteus), also known as the greater Indian fruit bat, is a species of flying fox in the family Pteropodidae. It is nocturnal and feeds mainly on ripe fruits, such as mangoes and bananas, and nectar.
The Indian Flying Fox may be the world's largest bat, weighting up to 3.5 pounds (1.6kg).
The Indian flying fox lives in tropical forests and swamps, near bodies of water. They also live on coastal islands, and it is theorized that ancestors migrated here long ago and found a liking to it, or were blown there and quickly forged a lifestyle. It is found in Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, Tibet, the Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. It is classified as Least concern due to its wide range and apparent adaptability.
The Indian flying fox is frugivorous or nectarivorous, i.e., they eat fruits or lick nectar from flowers. At dusk, these bats forage for ripe fruit. While ingesting fruit, these bats expel waste that pollinates and disperse seeds.
Mating System: P. giganteus is a polygynandrous species, and breeds yearly from July to October. Births occur from February to May. Gestation period is typically 140 to 150 days. The average birth number is 1 to 2 pups. Among members of the genus Pteropus, pups are carried by the mother for the first few weeks of life, with weaning occurring around 5 months of age. Males do not participate in parental care. Young bats learn to fly at approximately 11 weeks of age. Reproductive maturity occurs at 1.5 years.
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Wikipedia