# Egyptian Rousette (*Rousettus aegyptiacus*) The Egyptian Rousette is a fruit bat that loves to eat yummy fruits! They have big ears and can see well in the dark, which helps them find food at night. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Caves and forests - **Also known as:** Egyptian Fruit Bat, Rousette Bat ![Egyptian Rousette](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Rousettus_egypticus.jpg&width=800) Photo: The original uploader was Dawson at English Wikipedia ., CC BY-SA 2.5 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rousettus_egypticus.jpg) ## Appearance The Egyptian Rousette is a medium-sized bat with reddish-brown fur, large dark eyes, and a long, pointed muzzle that makes it look somewhat like a fox. It has simple, pointed ears and a small clawed thumb on its wings. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Chiroptera - **Family:** Pteropodidae - **Genus:** Rousettus ## Interesting facts - Baby bats, called pups, cling to their mom's fur, riding along during flight! - Sometimes called 'dog-faced bats' because of their pointy snout! - They are one of the few bats that 'see' using sound made by their tongue! - They sleep upside down, hanging by their feet, always ready to fly! ## Special abilities - **Super Sight:** Egyptian Rousette has large eyes that help them see well in dim light to navigate and find delicious fruits. - **Tongue-Click Navigator:** Egyptian Rousette can make rapid tongue clicks to echolocate, helping them navigate dark caves and find food. - **Fruity Finder:** Egyptian Rousette can sniff out ripe fruit from a distance, even in the dark, using their amazing sense of smell. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 14-18 cm - **Wingspan:** 60-70 cm - **Weight:** 0.08-0.17 kg - **Lifespan:** 8-22 years - **Speed:** 25 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1-2 - **Gestation:** 100-120 days ## Diet & Feeding These fruit bats love to eat fresh fruits and nectar, helping plants spread their seeds. - **Age differences:** Pups drink milk from their mothers, then gradually transition to a diet of fruits and nectar. - **Primary Foods:** figs, dates, carob, peaches, nectar, pollen - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** [common fig](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-fig) (*Ficus carica*) — Enjoys ripe figs, dispersing their tiny seeds. - **Eats:** [date palm](https://www.snappit.app/explore/date-palm) (*Phoenix dactylifera*) — Feeds on sweet dates, helping to spread date palm seeds. - **Eaten by:** [Eurasian Eagle-owl](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eurasian-eagle-owl) (*Bubo bubo*) — A nocturnal predator that can catch bats in flight. - **Eaten by:** Golden Jackal (*Canis aureus*) — Might prey on bats found near the ground or cave entrances. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Cave Dwelling](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/cave-dwelling): Cave dwelling describes organisms specifically adapted to live in underground cave systems, often exhibiting specialized traits due to lack of light. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Echolocation](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/echolocation): Echolocation is a biological sonar used by animals to navigate, hunt, and communicate by emitting sound waves and interpreting the echoes. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Bats are wild animals and should be admired from a distance. Never try to touch or catch one. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Egyptian Rousette? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Egyptian Rousette? 14-18 cm ### What is Egyptian Rousette's wingspan? 60-70 cm ### How much does Egyptian Rousette weigh? 0.08-0.17 kg ### How long does Egyptian Rousette live? 8-22 years ### How fast can Egyptian Rousette move? 25 km/h ### What does Egyptian Rousette eat? These fruit bats love to eat fresh fruits and nectar, helping plants spread their seeds. ### Where is Egyptian Rousette usually found? Caves and forests ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Egyptian Rousette: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/egyptian-rousette)