Spotted-winged Fruit Bat

About the Spotted-winged Fruit Bat

The spotted-winged fruit bat (Balionycteris maculata) is the smallest megabat in the world. It inhabits forests in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. Spotted-winged fruit bats are unusually small megabats, with a head-body length of 5.2 to 6.2 centimetres (2.0 to 2.4 in), a wingspan of 28 centimetres (11 in), and an adult body weight of around 13 grams (0.46 oz). Most of the head and body are covered in thick blackish-brown fur, while the underparts are a pale grey-brown. Their wings are dark brown, with distinctive pale cream spots, which are most noticeable on the joints, but are also found in a variable pattern across the wing membranes. The wings have been reported to have an aspect ratio of 5.8 and a wing loading of 9.51 N/m2.

There are also pale markings in front of the large eyes, and on the ears, which are simple in shape, compared with those of microbats. The nostrils are elongated, and splayed to the side of the snout. The species can be distinguished from other small fruit bats by the presence of the spots on its wings, but also by its unusual dental formula of 2.1.3.21.1.3.2.

Spotted-winged fruit bats inhabit primary... Wikipedia →