Fox bats, also known as flying foxes or megabats, are large mammals known for sustained flight. They are primarily nocturnal, seeking food in darkness. Found across tropical and subtropical regions, including islands from Madagascar to Australia and mainland Asia, their distinct dietary preferences set them apart from smaller, insect-eating bat species.
The Primary Diet of Fox Bats
Fox bats primarily consume fruits (frugivorous) and nectar (nectarivorous). Their diet includes a wide array of fruits from rainforest trees and vines, such as figs, lilly pillies, koda, plum pine, mangoes, and various native berries. They also feed on the nectar and pollen of numerous flowering trees, including eucalypts, melaleucas, banksias, angophoras, bloodwoods, and turpentine trees. Some species additionally chew on leaves, like those from mangroves, and may consume tree sap.
While their diet is predominantly plant-based, fox bats can occasionally ingest small insects found on fruit. They also actively seek out insects, such as cicadas, to supplement protein, particularly during lactation. These bats consume a substantial amount of food daily, typically ranging from 25% to 35% of their body weight. Their feeding habits adapt to food availability, sometimes leading them to feed on cultivated orchard fruits when native sources are scarce.
Specialized Feeding Behaviors
Fox bats locate food sources through a keen sense of smell and good vision, which aids in finding ripe fruits and blossoming flowers in low light. When consuming fruit, they do not typically swallow the entire fruit. Instead, they crush it to extract juices and then spit out the fibrous pulp and seeds, forming small pellets called “spats.” This method allows them to absorb necessary nutrients while minimizing flight weight.
For nectar, these bats possess long tongues, sometimes with brush-like tips, adapted for lapping liquid from deep within flowers. As they feed, pollen often adheres to their fur, facilitating transfer. Fox bats may hover in front of flowers or cling to branches while feeding. Their digestive system is efficient, processing food rapidly, with transit times as short as 20 to 30 minutes, though seeds can be retained longer. This quick digestion supports flight by maintaining a lighter body mass.
Ecological Importance of Their Diet
Fox bats contribute to ecosystem health as pollinators and seed dispersers. As they move from flower to flower, pollen collected on their fur transfers, promoting cross-pollination over considerable distances. This long-distance pollination benefits the genetic diversity and health of forest ecosystems, with many eucalypt species relying on them.
Their fruit-eating habits make them effective agents of seed dispersal. Fox bats often carry fruits away from the parent plant before consuming them, or disperse seeds through their droppings as they fly. Research indicates that seeds passing through a fox bat’s digestive tract can exhibit improved germination success. This seed dispersal aids in forest regeneration, helping new trees establish themselves away from parent plant competition and supporting restoration of degraded areas. A single colony can disperse hundreds of thousands of seeds in a single night, showcasing their broad impact on reforestation.