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EGYPTIAN FRUIT BATS Scientific Name: Rousettus
aegyptiacus
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Read more about the Sarasota Bradenton
Children's Zoo
here. |
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Egyptian Fruit bats are among the smallest of the mega bats and
belong to a sub-order of Old World fruit bats. Their body length ranges from 110
-130 mm Their forearm length from 65 - 103 mm. The length of the
tail about 14 mm. Total wingspan from 30-45 cm. Average weight
is 81-171 grams.
In the Wild...
There are ten
species of Egyptian fruit bats that occur in a variety of
habitats from valleys to mountainous areas where they find
shelter in ancient tombs, temples, rock crevices, garden trees,
and most commonly in caves.
The bat diet in the
wild consists of fruits, their juices, and flower nectar. Bats
help ensure the diversity of plants in their habitat by
spreading pollen as they gather the flower nectar. Therefore
they are an important part of their native ecosystem. Almost 70%
of all of the world's fruit is pollinated entirely by bats.
 The bats congregate
in very small (2 to 3 individuals) but mostly very large (up to
2,000) groups. While flying in the darkness they utter a
high-pitched buzzing sound, which is called echolocation (active
sonar) to navigate. Bats can hear up to about 200,000 hertz. This sound is audible to the human ear.. These bats have
excellent eyesight. As they gather together and hang tightly
packed from the ceiling, these small animals always make body
contact with each other. Both sexes and all ages are mixed
together. They may seem to be aggressive, fight a lot and seem
to never rest but bats rarely injure each other. They fight over
food, the best hanging spots, and females. Mostly they use their
wings to "box" with their competitor and they keep their mouths
closed, which is part of posturing, while making a loud
screeching sound.
Biology
 Breeding season
occurs between December and March each year. Bats normally give
birth to one baby each year, but twins occur sometimes. The
mother first carries her young, then leaves them with the group
while she goes out to hunt for food. At about 3 months old the
babies learn to fly on their own. The offspring usually stays in
the same colony the rest of their lives.
Habitat and
Distribution
These bats have a
wide range from the Middle East through most of Africa, in
particular South of the Sahara desert and of course, based on
their name, mainly in Egypt. They have also been found in Turkey
and Pakistan.
Threats
Although not
threatened at the moment, loss of habitat due to political
instability and agricultural development are the main threats to
the species. |
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 When the
Sarasota-Bradenton Children's zoo closed, the animals were left with nowhere to
go and nobody to care for them. Among their residents were an entire colony of
Egyptian fruit bats.
With a wingspan of almost two feet and the ability to eat their body weight
in fruit each night, these bats are quite a handful! |
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