Wild Facts

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Did You Know?

• The Large Flying Fox is also known as the Malaysian Flying Fox, Greater Flying Fox and the Kalang
• This particular specimen is part of the Fruit Bat family and as such feeds exclusively on flowers, nectar and tasty fruit (okay, they may eat fruit that isn’t tasty but I think that is just a personal opinion)
• The scientific name for the Large Flying Fox is Pteropus vampyrus - Any guesses how they received this species name?

What’s In A Name?

Both the common and the scientific name of today’s featured animal is quite intriguing. Let’s start with the common name, Large Flying Fox. How did this bat get stuck with this bizarre name? For starters, they are one of the largest bats in the world, hence the “Large” part. Secondly like most other bats (probably all bats) they are capable of flight (that is the flying part) and last but not least these megabats have the face very similar to the adorable Fox.

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So what about the scientific name? Why are they referred to as “vampyrus”? Are they related to Vampire Bats, Dracula or Robert Pattinson? I haven’t confirmed whether or not the Large Flying Fox is related to the Twilight Star but I know for a fact they are not closely related to Dracula or Vampire Bats. Instead, they received this species name as a result of a couple of very long canine teeth. If you look at the skull of this bat, you will notice they have canines like a dog. So it is a good thing for us that these bats prefer the taste of fruit.

The Large Flying Fox is a Weary Traveller

Believe it or not, this Flying Fox is known to travel over 50 kilometres a day just to find the perfect fruit patch. Once they find their scrumptious feeding place, these bats will crash land into the tree, grapple a branch or two with their feet (or their claw located on their wings) and begin feasting. They manage to find these perfect feeding locations using their sharp eyesight and keen sense of smell. Yes, that’s right, the Large Flying Fox does not rely on echolocation, so let’s hope for their sake they are not “blind as a bat”.

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Today’s featured animal, the Greater Bulldog Bat, has to be one of the most remarkable bat species on the planet. This large bat, also known as the Fisherman Bat, is a type of fishing bat found throughout Latin America. As you might expect, they are called the Fisherman Bat for a reason…..they are one of the few bat species in the world that feeds primarily on fish. That’s right, a bat that catches fish. We will find out how this accomplish this feat soon enough but first, lets learn a little more about their appearance.

A Face Only A Mother Could Love

The Greater Bulldog Bat has a few interesting features on their face. For starters, their upper lip is divided by a skin flap while the bottom lip has a wart that extends all the way down to their chin. When you combine these characteristics, today’s featured bat, has the uncanny resemblance to that of a Bulldog, hence their name. The wingspan of the Greater Bulldog Bat is about 1 m (3 feet) across, with their 3rd digit making up about 65% of the wing. Believe it or not, the wing is actually longer than the head and body of our Flying Bulldog. Not only can they use these wings to fly but the Greater Bulldog Bat is a capable swimmer, which comes in handy when you are a fisherman.

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The Perfect Fishing Hole

So how does this bat catch fish? Well, they typically fly high into the air circling like a vulture. From this viewpoint, they are able to use their echolocation to detect any movements in the water below. When the fish start surfacing to catch their food, the bat will swoop down for a closer look. When it is time to eat, they will skim the surface of the water and pluck the little fishy from its home, using their large hind feet. If there is a particularly good fishing spot, the Greater Bulldog Bat will skip over the flying high part and just skim the top of the pond. This behaviour is known as raking and tends to be quite effective for our large fish-eating bat.

I think this is one of those behaviours that you need to see for yourself. The short video clip below shows how this bat catches fish and also outlines the potential dangers that await for the hungry bat.

Pretty intense video, eh? It just goes to show that every day in the wild is a battle for survival.

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I have always been intrigued by bats. Perhaps, it stems from my days as a child where I would see them sleeping on the side of my cousin’s garage…and subsequently, I remember getting in trouble for petting them. It is funny, how these poor bats have such a bad reputation, isn’t it? In reality, bats such as today’s featured animal, the Cave Nectar Bat, play a crucial role in the success of their natural ecosystem. We will get into this a little more but first we need to rush to the airport as we are going to Southeast Asia to learn about the Cave Nectar Bat. Also known as the Dawn Bat, Common Nectar Bat, Lesser Dawn Bat and of course the Common Dawn Bat.

The $120 Million Bat

Not only is the Cave Nectar Bat important for their natural environment but they actually help sustain the economy of Southeast Asia. How, you ask? Well, these furry, little bats are the only pollinator of the durian fruit. This particular fruit is responsible for contributing roughly $120 million USD to the economy of Southeast Asia. If this bat becomes extinct….the loss of this valuable resource would soon follow as it is tough for a plant to survive if your seeds are not being dispersed.  So not only are bats good for the ecosystem but they are also good for your pocketbook.

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A Good Restaurant is Worth the Trip

As you might expect, the Cave Nectar Bat, typically lives in…..yep, you guessed it….CAVES! Generally, they will roost in small colonies of a few dozen bats, however, they have been known to have as many as a 1000 friends with them in their limestone cave dwelling. Once the night falls these bats leave their comfy home to feed on the nectar of many plants, including the durian fruit. They have been known to travel as far as 38.6 km (24 miles) just to find the perfect source of tasty pollen or nectar. Personally, I think flying 24 miles for dinner is a little far but if it is a great tasting restaurant then it just might be worth it.

One Big Coincidence?

Remember how I said if the population of this bat decreased, it could cause problems with a million dollar industry? Coincidentally, the Cave Nectar Bat is of least concern as they have a strong population with no major threats. Are people being more conscientious as they don’t want to disrupt the durian fruit industry? Maybe the bat population is doing well as they are a fairly adaptable creature. I just find it funny (or at least coincidental) that when an animal helps people make money….they have no major human threats such as poaching or habitat destruction. Do you think we are consciously protecting this species to ensure the durian fruit market doesn’t collapse? Let me know in the comments below!

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Here we are at the start of another week of Wild Facts. Since it is Monday, I thought you may need some help getting your day start so I figured the Spectral Bat would be the perfect candidate to get you up out of your seat. This particular bat species is also known as False Vampire Bat, Linnaeus’s False Vampire Bat and the Spectral Vampire Bat. As you might expect from all the common names, the Spectral Bat is a carnivorous bat, however, it doesn’t feed strictly on blood. You can find the Spectral Bat anywhere between Mexico and Peru.

Do You Smell That?

The Spectral Bat is the largest carnivorous bat in the Western Hemisphere with a wingspan over 80 cm (2.6′) and a body length between 12.5 and 13.5 cm (4.9 – 5.3″). Unlike other bats, this carnivore prefers to use their keen sense of smell over their echolocation to track down their prey. The typical meal they smell out includes rodents, birds and even other bats. They Spectral Bat uses a methodical hunting method to slowly stalk their prey before swooping in and grabbing the unsuspecting victim by their head. It will then fly the latest meal back to their roost where they will begin feasting.

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Committed to the Family Life

When you think of bats, you typically think of them hanging upside down in a cave. The False Vampire Bat is slightly different as they prefer to roost in the hollows of trees. They will typically share these roosts with a long-term mate as well as family members, which is a rare behaviour in the bat world.  Just as rare is the fact that the Spectral Bat is one of the only bat species that show male parental care. Typically, at least one male (or older offspring) will remain in the roost with the youngest bat while the rest of their family goes out to forage. Having a stay at home dad obviously works of this species, which makes me wonder if other bats shouldn’t adopt this special parental technique.

Are You Threatening Me?!?

Unfortunately, the habitat this particular bat species depends on (i.e. lowland forests near swamps and rivers) is being destroyed by human civilization. As a result the Spectral Bat is listed as Near Threatened, and therefore needs to be monitored to ensure their population doesn’t dwindle. With any luck, we will leave some of their habitat alone so they can continue to flourish.

Is that a Moose? -- Click for Photo Source

After a week of playing in the ocean, flying with beautiful coloured birds and risking our lives with a carnivorous caterpillar, I thought we would end with an even more bizarre animal. You just need to take one look at the Hammer-Headed Bat to realize it will be a fun animal to learn more about. I mean, just look at their head! To catch a glimpse of this megabit, we need to take a quick trip to equatorial Africa where will will find them hanging out around rivers, mangrove swamps, and palm forests. Now let’s find out why their head is shaped like a hammer.

That is One Big Nose

Only the male Hammer-Headed Bat is blessed with such a large head, which they use to create incredibly loud honking noises. The large nose, larynx and lips allow the male bat create sounds that are extremely resonant. The females on the other hand have a head that is about 3 times smaller than their male counterparts. In fact, their head looks more like a regular ol’ fruit bat. It is funny how the males are always the ones that have to go out of their way to try and impress their female friends.

Image Credit: www.davidhiggins.net

Pick Me, Pick Me

Competition for female attention is quite fierce in the Hammer-Headed Bat population. Typically, males will all gather together in a group, which can contain as many as 130 individuals, At this point the female will fly over and assess the entire group of males. She will pick her favourite by landing on a branch next to the lucky winner. I guess it is kind of like picking baseball teams when you were a kid…..I feel bad for the last bat that never gets picked, but I guess that is life. He will just need to go back and work on getting an even larger nose for next year.

The Deadly Megabat

The Hammer-Headed Bat is the largest bat in Africa with a wingspan between 686 to 970 mm (2.3 – 3.2 feet). Typically, the males are larger than the females, which makes sense since they need to be able to carry that big head around all day. Although, it may be tempting to go up and pet this large, hammer-headed creature, iyou need to realize that this particular bat species is one of the 3 fruit bats in Africa that carry the Ebola virus, without showing any symptoms.  Not only are they huge but they can also be deadly!

Photo by Piotr Naskrecki, Conservation International

Welcome back to another exciting week of Wild Facts. This week we are going to take a look at some very unique animals starting with one that was recently discovered in 2009. There may not be too much information on the Tube Nosed Fruit Bat but we are going to do our best to learn everything we can about a species we didn’t know existed 3 years ago. That’s right, the Tube Nosed Fruit Bat was one of the 200 species identified during two scientific expeditions through the Nakanai and Muller mountain ranges in Papua New Guinea. Perhaps, we will discuss a few more of the animals identified during this trip throughout the week but first, let’s take a look at this bizarre looking bat.

Do I Look Like Yoda?

Some have compared the Tube Nosed Fruit Bat to the famous Star Wars character, Yoda. Since I have yet to see a Star Wars movie, I can’t really provide my opinion but let me know what you think. Either way, the Tube Nosed Fruit Bat is one odd looking creature. So what’s up with their nose? Like I had mentioned earlier, there isn’t a whole lot of information on this creature but it is believed that their bizarre nose acts like a snorkel. It may look weird but this nose allows the Tube Nosed Fruit Bat to breathe when its face is stuffed inside a scrumptious fruit. That is an interesting adaptation and I am sure it gives this bat an advantage when they play “Bobbing for Apples”.

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Adapting to Survive?

The Tube Nosed Fruit Bat is typically found in forested areas close to bodies of water, since everyone enjoys living on the water. Like other fruit bats, this particular species plays an important role as a seed disperser in the rainforest ecosystem. Unfortunately, these rainforest ecosystems are being destroyed as a result of human activity. Originally it was believed that this particular bat required high quality forests to survive, however, recent studies have shown them living in degraded habitats. They may not be thriving in these areas but it is great to know they are persisting since habitat destruction is one of the main reasons this bat is listed as endangered. If this species wants to continue living, they had better adapt to living in a degraded environment.

That does it for the first unique animal of the week. Enjoy the rest of your day!

Ong, P., Rosell-Ambal, G. & Tabaranza, B. & Heaney, L., Ingle, N., Cariño, A.B., Pangulatan, L.M., Pedregosa, M., Alcala, E. & Helgen, K. 2008. Nyctimene rabori. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 09 January 2012

Photo by Mnolf (Wikimedia)

After spending the first two days of the week chasing after frogs and salamanders, I thought we would mix it up by heading to the night skies to learn about the Common Pipistrelle. Yes, this is a type of bat! I know, I know…ewwww, bats! They may have a bad reputation but these little creatures are crucial for maintaining healthy ecosystems. This particular bat influences a particularly large ecosystem since they can be found across most of Europe, northern Africa and southwestern Asia. So pick a spot and lets wander into the night to find us a nice little bat.

Smallest European Bat

The Common Pipistrelle is the smallest of all the European bats with an average length between 3.5 – 4.5 cm (1.3 – 1.7″). These tiny mammals also have  a soft, furry, brown coloured coat. I don’t know about you but I personally think that if you are this small and furry then you should be classed as “Cute and Cuddly”. Don’t you agree? The reason the Common Pipistrelle has such a large home range lies with their generalist habitat selection. These common bats prefer woodlands and farms, however, they can be found living in houses, parks and marshes. Basically, they can live anywhere!

Baby - Photo by Mnolf (Wikimedia)

3000 Insects a NIGHT!

Like other bats the Common Pipistrelle leaves the comfort of their home at night to feast on a variety of insects such as moths, gnats and any other small bug they can get their mouth on. They usually hunt for a few hours before returning home, however, they have been known to hunt twice in a night. During the night, they will typically consume about 3000 insects. See, I told you they were important for the ecosystem. That is a lot of bugs! Think about this for a second – during a 30 day month, one Common Pipistrelle will eat about 90 000 insects. Now imagine what would happen if we didn’t have bats!

Common Pipistrelle Fast Fact

Although they are the most common European bat, the population of the Common Pipistrelle is on the decline (along with most other bats) as a result of the increased use of pesticides and the loss of roosting habitat. Basically, we are removing their food source and their homes. I would be pretty upset if I were them!

That does it for today’s Wild Fact. Thanks for stopping by and I will see you tomorrow for a brand new animal fact.

Little Brown Bat with WNS - Photo from Wikimedia

Today’s Wild Fact is going to be a little different than most of the other ones.  This is because I am going to focus on a very important issue that is threatening the existence of the Little Brown Bat.   This wonderful little bat is one of the most common bat species in North America……….or at least it use to be.  You may have heard about something called “White Nose Syndrome” which first started showing up in bats in 2006.  Well since then over 1 million bats have met their fate at the hands of this deadly fungus.  We will talk more about this in a minute.  First let’s take a closer look at the fuzzy Little Brown Bat.

As the name suggests these bats are obviously smaller and brown in colour.  Like most other bats the Little Brown Bat is an insectivore which heads out into the night sky to feed on pests such as mosquitoes, moths, wasps, beetles, mayflies among other insects.  Quite often when they find a nice big juicy bug flying through the air they will catch it using the tip of their wing then transfer to a cup formed by their tail.  Naturally, these civilized bats will use their cup-like tail to feed themselves.  Here you thought they just ate bugs directly with their mouth!  What?  You mean they do that too?  Oh, the Little Brown Bat will use their mouth for smaller insects.  That makes sense since it would probably be equivalent to me eating rice with chopsticks – I know it can be done but it is just a pain!

As mentioned earlier, the Little Brown Bat is in danger and may become endangered very soon as a result of White Nose Syndrome (WNS).  This condition is caused by a fungal growth that forms around the nose and wings of bat species.  Apparently this is a cold-loving fungus and as such begins to grow on the bats while they are hibernating in the deep, dark depths of their cave sanctuaries.  So how does this pesky fungus cause harm to our beloved bats?  Well, it disrupts the bats hibernation period (the technical term is torpor) causing the bat to wake up too early and eventually starve to death.  Not only is this an unpleasant way for millions of bats to die but there could be some huge implications to the ecosystem.

Photo from Wikimedia

For starters, bats play a major role in keeping our insect populations to a tolerable minimum.  This could have major implications in the business of agriculture.  Not too mention, you will be swatting at bugs all day long.  Bats are also an important pollinator and seed disperser.  Are you starting to see that it isn’t only the bats we have to be concerned about? Don’t get me wrong, we need to be concerned about the Little Brown Bat which is on the verge of rapid extinction.  The mortality rates associated with this fungus are incredibly high so if something isn’t figured out soon then it may be too late.

I know I am usually the one preaching that humans shouldn’t be playing mother nature but we need to at least figure out what has caused this sudden development of White Nose Syndrome.  We may be obligated to do something in order to prevent the extinction of a vitally important creature to our ecosystems.

If you would like to help out the Little Brown Bat then I would recommend listening to the authorities about not going caving in infected caves.  We are unsure how this fungus is transferred and it would be terrible if you are the person responsible for spreading this deadly fungus.  As well, you may want to look into putting up some bat boxes.  Every little bit helps, right?

I know this Wild Fact is a little longer than usual but I did want to raise your awareness about this very important issue that is hitting Northeast USA and Canada right now.  If we don’t figure out how it spreads or how to prevent it then it is possible that it will be in a cave near you very soon.

Enjoy the rest of your day folks!

Photo from Wikimedia

Thank you for joining me for another amazing week of Wild Facts.  We are going to start it off with a rather unique looking animal, the Horseshoe Bat.  We can find these peculiar bats in the temperate and tropical regions of Europe, Africa, Asia and even further south into northern and eastern Australia.  So pick a country, pack your bags and lets go find us some bats!  So? What country did you pick?  I chose to travel to Asia just to mix things up a bit but I hope at least one of you are going to come with me.  We can’t all go to Australia, you know.

The Horseshoe Bat gets their name from the horseshoe shaped, leaf-like structures protruding from their nose. Not only do these leaf-like structures make the bat even cuter and more cuddly then other bats but they also serve a very valuable purpose.  By now, we should all be aware that bats use echolocation to find their way (and food) at night.  Well the Horseshoe Bat uses these structures to emit their high pitched frequencies required for successful echolocation.  It is believed that these horseshoes allow the bat the ability to focus their sound better.  Hmmm… I wonder what happens if they have to sneeze?  I just picture a poor Horseshoe Bat trying to find his way around while he has a cold, cursing while blowing his nose as he flies into a tree.

Lesser Horseshoe Bat - Photo by F. C. Robiller (Wikimedia)

Like most other bats the Horsehoe bat is nocturnal, however, they tend to get a later start on the hunt then most other bats.  As well, they prefer to hunt about 6 m (20′) off the ground so hopefully they won’t be hitting your head as you are putting the garbage out at night. Again, like most bats the Horseshoe Bat is capable of plucking their insect prey out of mid-flight or while the insect sits on a twig or a leaf not realizing it is about to become dinner.  Interestingly enough some of the Horseshoe Bat species will actually sit quietly in a tree and grab the insects as they fly by.  It kind of reminds me of a frog  but with an ugly nose instead of long, sticky tongue.

The next time you are out and about in Horseshoe Bat territory make sure you keep an eye out for a colony.  That’s right, these bats will actually rest together.  These colonies range from 20 to 2000 individuals.  That is quite the range that might make predicting an exact number difficult.  The Wooly Horseshoe Bat likes to be different as they will usually roost in pairs.  Awww, isn’t that sweet.

Our little trip to learn about the Horsehoe Bat has come to an end.  Don’t cry, we will learn about another wickedly cool animal tomorrow.  Enjoy the rest of your day.

Source:

Horseshoe Bats: Rhinolophidae – Behavior And Reproduction