Peters's Epauletted Fruit Bat
Epomophorus crypturus
Silhouette: Steven Traver · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassMammalia (Mammals)
- OrderChiroptera (Bats)
- FamilyPteropodidae (Old World Fruit Bats)
- GenusEpomophorus (Epauletted Fruit Bats)
- SpeciesEpomophorus crypturus (Peters's Epauletted Fruit Bat)
About the Peters's Epauletted Fruit Bat
The Peters's epauletted fruit bat (Epomophorus crypturus) is a species of megabat in the family Pteropodidae. It is found in Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eswatini, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Its natural habitat is in riverine or evergreen forest, or moist woodland, where there are fruit-bearing trees.
It was described as a new species in 1852 by German naturalist Wilhelm Peters. Peters collected the holotype in "Tette" in Mozambique during an expedition that occurred from 1842 to 1848. Individuals have a forearm length ranging from 75–88 mm (3.0–3.5 in) and weigh 56–140 g (2.0–4.9 oz).
It consumes plant matter such as fruit and nectar. For reproduction, the typical litter size is one, though twins are perhaps possible, if very rare. Newborns are altricial at birth, with eyes closed and sparse fur. Newborns weigh around 11 g (0.39 oz). Births likely occur around September, and it has been suggested that females give birth once per year. It has variable roosting behavior. Individuals may roost singly, though may also roost in groups consisting of several hundred individuals. Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Peters's Epauletted Fruit Bat in Chobe National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Chobe National Park
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hwange National Park | 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe | |
| 2 | Moremi Game Reserve | 🇧🇼 Botswana | |
| 3 | Chobe National Park | 🇧🇼 Botswana |