The largest bat in the world – 5 interesting facts

3/30/2020

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Nature Story: The largest bat in the world – 5 interesting facts

This creature is known as the giant golden-crowned flying fox, and it's an animal unique in many ways. Being the world's largest bat, it surprises not only with its size, but also with its lifestyle and behavior.

Quick facts about the world's largest bat:

it's also widely known by another name: the golden-capped fruit bat;
some individuals weigh up to to 1.4 kg (3.1 lb);
it lives in the Philippines.

#1 They feed mostly on fruits

Nature Story: Giant golden crowned flying fox diet — wikimedia CC BY

Of all fruits, they love figs the most. They comprise an important part of the bats' diet. Sometimes these bats eat plant leaves. They consume large amounts of food to get all the important nutrients and vitamins.

#2 They have the largest wingspan of all bat species – 1.5–1.7 m (4.9–5.6 ft)

Nature Story: giant golden crowned flying fox wingspan — shutterstock

If you want to check your knowledge on animals, try to identify every creature in this fun trivia quiz.

#3 The females are usually pregnant with one offspring at a time

Nature Story: giant golden crowned flying fox baby — wikimedia CC BY-SA

Little is still known about how the largest bat in the world reproduces. The pups are usually born from April through June.

#4 They can travel up to 40 km (25 miles) per night in search of good fruits

Big bats love fruits, while many of their smaller relatives consume blood. They are known as vampire bats, but in reality they are no evil at all.

#5 They sleep all day long in tree roosts

Nature Story: giant golden crowned flying fox roosts — shutterstock

Golden-capped fruit bats sleep in large groups, consisting of up to several thousands of bats. Different fruit bats usually coexist peacefully, so one group can consist of representatives of different species. Most of them look very alike.

Have you ever heard about this animal before? Would you like to see it with your own eyes?

If you want to learn new facts everyday, try our educational articles. To challenge yourself and check your general knowledge take these fun trivia quizzes and answer trivia questions.

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What are your thoughts on this subject?

21 Comments

Caroline Weis

I've seen these bat's profiled on a show called "Eath Odyssey" with Dylan Dreyer. The show is a half hour long on Saturday mornings. They profile many different animals from all over thee world.

Julie Allen

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN), about half of all flying fox species have declining populations. Of these species, the IUCN classifies 15 as vulnerable and 11 as endangered.

Eve

I have nothing against bats...they're a mammal with a job to do and they do it like all creatures.

Laura Herendeen

I know the bats in Australia are huge also. They call them flying foxes there.

Lourdes Ayala

I think they’re really important for the environment! I also happen to think that they are quite adorable! Would love to have a pet bat that would eat all the bugs around the house!

Patricia M. Culpepper

As a child in Georgia, I recall waking up from a nap on a sofa and seeing a bat perched near me. My grandmother was chasing it with a broom. Have been very afraid of bats since then!!!!

Debbie Young

Well I'm not a bat person .....although I do know that they will fly right at you its happened to me....and they're not blind ...but I don't think that they are cute....lol..just sayin