Length: 5 – 10 cm
The long-tailed fruit bat may not be the very biggest, but it’s one of the largest in its family and the only native mammal of Fiji’s 333 islands. Unlike many bats, some species in this group lack echolocation, relying instead on sharp eyesight and smell. Their most striking feature is the unusual tail that hangs freely from their body—an unmistakable detail for anyone spotting them.
These bats live in colonies of up to a thousand individuals, usually in the darkest corners of tall caves. They also inhabit tropical and subtropical dry forests. While they are not currently considered highly endangered, habitat loss, hunting, and tourism all pose threats. Today, they can be found only in Fiji, New Caledonia, and Vanuatu.
Length: 6.5 – 14 cm
The largest bats of the New World, greater false vampire bats are carnivores with a dramatic appearance: tall ears connected by a strip of skin across the forehead and a long fleshy nose. Unlike their name suggests, they don’t drink blood—these predators feed on rodents, birds, and insects. Their hunting strategy is brutal but effective: snapping the necks of rodents or crushing birds’ skulls with powerful jaws.
Surprisingly, they are also among the few monogamous bat species. Males wrap their wings around their mates and offspring during the day, helping to keep them warm. They usually roost in pairs or small groups in caves, tree hollows, or logs. Found in Australia, parts of Africa, and India, these bats prefer dry and open habitats where their hunting skills give them the upper hand.
Length: up to 15 cm
The Egyptian fruit bat is a sturdy mid-sized species with a fox-like face, large round eyes, and an exceptionally long tongue. When not feeding, this tongue curls around the chest like a coiled spring. Their diet is mostly fleshy fruits, though they occasionally snack on insects, fungi, or leaves.
By day, they gather in caves or dark forests in colonies that can reach up to a thousand members. Mothers carry their babies for the first six weeks, nursing them until they are about three months old. These bats are found across much of Africa as well as in India and Pakistan, thriving in both lowlands and mountains.
Length: 15.5 – 22 cm
One of the largest bats on Earth, the Indian flying fox is both awe-inspiring and alarming. These animals are known carriers of several dangerous viruses, including Nipah virus and lyssaviruses, which makes close contact risky. Despite this, they play a crucial ecological role as fruit eaters and pollinators.
Their diet centers on figs but also includes bananas, guavas, mangoes, and other fruits, occasionally supplemented with flowers and insects. Indian flying foxes roost in massive colonies, sometimes with hundreds of individuals clustered in banyan or fig trees. Their range stretches across South and Central Asia, from China and Pakistan to the Maldives. In some communities in Pakistan, they are even used in traditional medicine.
Length: up to 23 cm
Few animals look as strange as the hammer-headed bat. With an elongated head and massive lips, males have such unusual faces that they’ve been compared to gargoyles. Females, however, look much more like typical fruit bats with fox-like features.
Their diet is fruit-based, with figs at the top of the menu along with bananas, guavas, and mangoes. Thanks to their long digestive systems, they absorb more protein than many other bat species. Hammer-headed bats live across central Africa in humid habitats such as mangroves and palm forests.
Although harmless to humans, they are sometimes found carrying parasites and viruses, including strains related to Ebola. Scientists are still studying their role in disease transmission.
Length: up to 30 cm
At the very top of the size chart stands the giant golden-crowned flying fox, also called the golden-capped fruit bat. This species, found only in the Philippines, is the largest bat in the world. With their fox-like faces, pointed ears, and massive wingspans, they look almost like creatures from a science fiction movie.
Despite their intimidating size, these bats are strictly fruit eaters. They travel at speeds of over 40 km/h at night to forage for food, favoring figs and other native fruits. As they feed, they scatter seeds, playing a vital role in forest regeneration.
Golden-crowned flying foxes roost in huge colonies, often near rivers and caves. They also have a fascinating grooming habit: scooping water with their wings and spreading it across their bodies, a nightly ritual of self-care. Unfortunately, habitat destruction and hunting have put them under threat, making their conservation a priority in the Philippines.
While many animals follow a more casual approach to relationships, some species surprise us with…
Some life forms have developed extraordinary abilities that allow them to survive in the harshest…
Photography has become such a natural part of our lives that it’s hard to imagine…
Australia is famous for its stunning landscapes, vibrant reefs, and unique wildlife. But it’s also…
When we think of dangerous animals, our minds often go to lions, snakes, or crocodiles.…
Summer marks the height of the vacation season in the United States. But for many…