Flying foxes belong to the fruit bats family. Of all bats found in Australia, flying foxes are the largest. There are four different types of flying foxes – Little Red, Grey-headed, Spectacled and the Black flying fox. All four species are native to Australia. Among the flying foxes, the largest is the grey-headed flying fox which can weigh up to one kilogram and have an adult wingspan of up to a meter. Flying foxes have large eyes that make it easier for them to distinguish different colors at night – something that is critical when they are looking for food.
Flying foxes were originally found in the tropical areas of Australia but especially in the eastern and northern temperate zones. Flying foxes are nomadic animals and their movement is affected by changes in flowering, climate and the fruiting patterns of trees. Like many other forms of indigenous wildlife, the immigration to Australia by European and Asian settlers affected the natural habitat and supply of food of flying foxes.
Clearing of land for settlement particularly affected the spectacled and grey-headed flying foxes to the point where they are now considered endangered. Low reproductive rates and high infant mortality have also contributed to the dwindling numbers of the spectacled and grey headed flying fox.
Despite the initial disruption by human settlement, flying foxes can easily co-exist with human beings as can be seen in several suburban areas of Australia. Flying foxes set up camps in dense and tall vegetation. Man managed camps in suburban areas have proven a successful model since flying foxes will have access to cultivated, tended trees and they are also less prone to shooting. The camp sites for the flying foxes can either be temporary or permanent.
A standard sized camp site can have thousands of flying foxes especially during the breeding season. While man managed camps have been successful, natural occupying ones form the vast majority of flying foxes breeding ground. Some natural breeding areas have been used for centuries. When resting, flying foxes hang upside down from tree branches with their wings folded around their bodies.
Flying foxes are social and relatively intelligent mammals. They stick together and feed in small groups approximately within a 16 km radius of the camp. If food is in short supply, the flying foxes depart before sunset – when food is in plenty, they leave after dark. Flying foxes are highly vocal creatures with 30 distinct calls documented among grey-headed flying foxes. For instance, flying foxes have a different call during mating season and when disagreeing over food.
Flying foxes mostly feed on fruit, nectar, plant foliage and flower blossoms. For this reason, flying foxes play an important role in facilitating the pollination thus ensuring the continuity of the flora in areas where they feed. If their preferred foods are scare, they sometimes feed on cultivated fruits thus clashing with farmers. That said, the flying fox is as Australian an animal as they come and is an integral part of the country’s wildlife heritage.
Back to the Australian animals overview
References:
http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/DSE/nrenpa.nsf/LinkView/BAA86C6B029BC723CA256BF2001E406916C869C35CA02BB14A256DEA00247222
http://fennerschool-associated.anu.edu.au/batatlas/at_foxes.html
