MTBC Bat of the Week: Wahlberg’s Epauletted Fruit Bat (Epomophorus wahlbergi)🦇🍃With its striking appearance, this bat is more than just a fruit lover—it’s a key player in healthy ecosystems: ✨Where to Find Them This bat is widely distributed across sub-Saharan Africa. Its range stretches from West Africa, through Central Africa’s southern Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda, to East and Southern Africa, and eastern and southern South Africa. 🍴What’s for Dinner? This bat is a frugivore – feeds on figs, guavas, and fruits from Diospyros species. It consumes the soft flesh and discards the seeds—an important role in seed dispersal. It also enjoys nectar, pollen, flowers, leaves from Balanites species, and occasionally, insects. Its varied diet makes it a vital pollinator and seed disperser. 🏡Roosting Retreats These bats inhabit a variety of habitats, from dense forests to urban landscapes. They prefer woodland and savanna environments, especially forest edges. Roosting sites range from well-lit trees and palm fronds to man-made structures and, rarely, caves. 🚦Migratory Behavior These bats are not true migrants, but follow seasonal fruiting cycles. One notable movement is their migration to Taaween, where they flock to feast on ripening guavas. 📡Echolocation Expertise? This bat doesn't rely fully on echolocation – navigating using its sharp vision and sense of smell. It is one of the few megabats that can echolocate—using audible tongue-clicks, not larynx sounds. 💡Fun Fact This species is known for its elaborate courtship displays. Males puff up their epaulettes and make frog-like calls—up to 120 calls per minute! 🌿Conservation Note Currently listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, populations are considered stable. However, in some areas, habitat loss due to dune mining and drought are threats. These bats depend on healthy, fruiting trees and protected natural spaces, so protecting their habitats is key to their survival. (fb)

Meet the Indian flying fox (Pteropus medius)🦇🍃As one of the largest bats in the world, this incredible species plays a crucial role in maintaining healthy ecosystems through seed dispersal and pollination: ✨Where to Find Them This bat is native to South Asia, found across India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and the Maldives. They inhabit tropical forests, swamps, and areas near water, often roosting in large trees like banyan, tamarind, and more. 🍴What’s for Dinner? This bat is a frugivore and nectarivore, primarily feeding on fruits, flowers, and nectar. Their diet includes bananas, papayas, figs, mangoes, and guavas. They play a vital role in seed dispersal by consuming fruit and dispersing the seeds through their waste. While they roost together, they forage individually, traveling up to 150 km in search of food! 🏡Roosting Retreats They require large trees in tropical forests and wetlands, typically near human settlements and water sources. Roosting sites are essential for their survival, reproduction, and social behaviors, including grooming, mating, and territorial defense. 🚦Migratory Behavior Although not known for long-distance migrations, some populations exhibit seasonal movements based on mating and weather conditions. 📡Echolocation Expertise? Unlike many bats, the Indian flying fox does not use echolocation. Instead, it relies on its exceptional vision and keen sense of smell. 💡Fun Fact This bat boasts an impressive wingspan of up to 5 feet. They can consume up to three times their body weight in fruit every day -- that’s up to ten pounds! 🌿Conservation Note Currently listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, this bat still faces localized threats, including habitat loss and conflicts with farmers due to fruit consumption. Despite being seen as pests, they provide immense ecological benefits. Conservation efforts should focus on habitat preservation and education about their role in the ecosystem. (fb)