Mammals · Chiroptera · Pteropodidae

Large Flying-fox

Pteropus giganteus

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

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It is one of the largest bats in the world by wingspan. It forms colonies of hundreds to thousands in a single tree.

Weight

600 g – 1.6 kg

Size

20 cm – 30 cm

Diet

Frugivore

Feeds mainly on fruit.

Activity

Nocturnal

Active mainly at night.

Social structure

Colony

Lives in large concentrations, often for breeding reasons.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

RainforestFrugivore Nocturnal Colonial Rainforest Mammal

8countries 35parks9same family

Fun facts

It is one of the largest bats in the world by wingspan, at up to 1.5 metres.
It forms colonies of hundreds to thousands in a single tree.
Males follow a vertical dominance hierarchy according to where in the tree they roost.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (mammal)
Habitat & environment: Woodland, towns and farmland of the Indian subcontinent, forming large colonies in trees
Birth weight: 45 grams
Size at birth: Well developed, clinging to its mother for its first few weeks
Sexual maturity: 1-2 years
Gestation / incubation: 140-150 days (~4.5-5 months)
Litter / clutch size: 1 to 2 young (most commonly 1)
Lifespan in captivity: Documented record of 44 years in captivity

Sources consulted: AnAge (genomics.senescence.info); The Website of Everything; Encyclopedia of Life; Animal Diversity Web; Britannica; Animalia.bio; JRank Articles; PMC (copulation behavior study)