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Pteropodidae - Old World Fruit Bats

There are around 200 species in this family of large bats. They are found in tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, Asia, and Australia.

They have a long, clawed index finger; small ears; large eyes; and short or no tails.

They are usually large compared to other bats, with some species having wingspans over 5 feet.

The bats in this family do not use echolocation to find food. They rely on their large eyes and keen sense of smell to find fruit and nectar.

  • The Sulawesi fruit bat is found in Indonesia. IUCN Redlist Status: Vulnerable
    Sulawesi Fruit Bat
    (Acerodon celebensis)
    The Sulawesi fruit bat is found in Indonesia. IUCN Redlist Status: Vulnerable
  • The golden-capped fruit bat is found in the Philippines. IUCN Redlist Status: Endangered
    Golden-Capped Fruit Bat
    (Acerodon jubatus)
    The golden-capped fruit bat is found in the Philippines. IUCN Redlist Status: Endangered
  • The black-capped fruit bat is found in Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Black-Capped Fruit Bat
    (Chironax melanocephalus)
    The black-capped fruit bat is found in Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The lesser dog-faced fruit bat is found in Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Lesser Dog-Faced Fruit Bat
    (Cynopterus brachyotis)
    The lesser dog-faced fruit bat is found in Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The greater shortnosed fruit bat is found in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Greater Shortnosed Fruit Bat
    (Cynopterus sphinx)
    The greater shortnosed fruit bat is found in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The western naked-backed fruit bat is found in Indonesia and Timor-Leste. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Western Naked-Backed Fruit Bat
    (Dobsonia peronii)
    The western naked-backed fruit bat is found in Indonesia and Timor-Leste. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The Madagascan Fruit Bat is found in Madagascar. IUCN Redlist Status: Vulnerable
    Madagascan Fruit Bat
    (Eidolon dupreanum)
    The Madagascan Fruit Bat is found in Madagascar. IUCN Redlist Status: Vulnerable
  • The African straw-colored fruit-bat is found in central and southern Africa.
    African Straw-Colored Fruit-Bat
    (Eidolon helvum)
    The African straw-colored fruit-bat is found in central and southern Africa.
  • The dagger-toothed long-nosed fruit bat is found in Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Singapore, the Solomon Islands, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Dagger-Toothed Long-Nosed Fruit Bat
    (Macroglossus minimus)
    The dagger-toothed long-nosed fruit bat is found in Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Singapore, the Solomon Islands, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The Angolan fruit bat is found in Angola, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Angolan Fruit Bat
    (Myonycteris angolensis)
    The Angolan fruit bat is found in Angola, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The eastern tube-nosed bat is found in Australia. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Eastern Tube-Nosed Bat
    (Nyctimene robinsoni)
    The eastern tube-nosed bat is found in Australia. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The black flying fox is found in Australia, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Black Flying Fox
    (Pteropus alecto)
    The black flying fox is found in Australia, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The spectacled flying fox is found in Australia, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea. IUCN Redlist Status: Endangered
    Spectacled Flying Fox
    (Pteropus conspicillatus)
    The spectacled flying fox is found in Australia, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea. IUCN Redlist Status: Endangered
  • The Ryukyu flying fox is found in Japan, the Philippines and Taiwan. IUCN Redlist Status: Vulnerable
    Ryukyu Flying Fox
    (Pteropus dasymallus)
    The Ryukyu flying fox is found in Japan, the Philippines and Taiwan. IUCN Redlist Status: Vulnerable
  • The greater Mascarene flying fox, also known as the Mauritian flying fox, is found in Mauritius and Réunion. IUCN Redlist Status: Endangered
    Greater Mascarene Flying Fox
    (Pteropus niger)
    The greater Mascarene flying fox, also known as the Mauritian flying fox, is found in Mauritius and Réunion. IUCN Redlist Status: Endangered
  • The Indian flying fox is found in Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. IUCN Redlist Status: Near Threatened
    Indian Flying Fox
    (Pteropus medius)
    The Indian flying fox is found in Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. IUCN Redlist Status: Near Threatened
  • The gray-headed flying fox is found in Australia. IUCN Redlist Status: Vulnerable
    Gray-Headed Flying Fox
    (Pteropus poliocephalus)
    The gray-headed flying fox is found in Australia. IUCN Redlist Status: Vulnerable
  • The little red flying fox is found in Australia. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Little Red Flying Fox
    (Pteropus scapulatus)
    The little red flying fox is found in Australia. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The Pacific flying fox is found in American Samoa, Cook Islands, Fiji, New Caledonia, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Vanuatu, and Wallis and Futuna. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Pacific Flying Fox
    (Pteropus tonganus)
    The Pacific flying fox is found in American Samoa, Cook Islands, Fiji, New Caledonia, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Vanuatu, and Wallis and Futuna. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The Egyptian Fruit Bat is found in the Middle East and Africa. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Egyptian Fruit Bat
    (Rousettus aegyptiacus)
    The Egyptian Fruit Bat is found in the Middle East and Africa. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • Leschenault’s Rousette is found in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam. IUCN Redlist Status: Near Threatened
    Leschenault’s Rousette
    (Rousettus leschenaultii)
    Leschenault’s Rousette is found in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam. IUCN Redlist Status: Near Threatened
  • The common blossom bat is found in Australia, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Common Blossom Bat
    (Syconycteris australis)
    The common blossom bat is found in Australia, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern

Did You Know?

Indian Flying Fox
The Indian Flying Fox i one of the bats in this family.

World Status Key

Status and range is taken from IUCN Redlist

Least Concern
Near Threatened
Vulnerable
Endangered
Critically Endangered
Extinct in the Wild
Extinct
Not Enough Data

U.S. Status Key

Status taken from US Fish and Wildlife

Threatened in US
Endangered in US
Introduced

NH Status Key

Status taken from NH Fish and Game

Threatened in NH
Endangered in NH
Breeds in NH (birds)

Location Key

Africa
Asia
Australia/Oceania
Europe
North/Central America
south america alt
South America

New Hampshire Species

No animals found.

Other Species Around the World

No animals found.

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