# Rodrigues flying fox (*Pteropus rodricensis*) The Rodrigues flying fox is a big bat with large wings and a fluffy body. It loves to fly around at night, searching for sweet fruits to eat. These bats are very special and only found on Rodrigues Island! - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Rare - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Forests ![Rodrigues flying fox](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Pteropus_rodricensis_%28Zurich_Zoo%29_-_back.JPG&width=800) Photo: Guérin Nicolas ( messages ), CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pteropus_rodricensis_%28Zurich_Zoo%29_-_back.JPG) ## Appearance The Rodrigues flying fox has soft, golden-brown to reddish fur covering its body, contrasting sharply with its dark, leathery wings. It possesses a distinctive fox-like face with large, inquisitive eyes and prominent ears. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Chiroptera - **Family:** Pteropodidae - **Genus:** Pteropus ## Interesting facts - A strong sense of smell helps them sniff out their favorite juicy fruits. - These rare bats are found only on one tiny island in the whole world! - They are called "flying foxes" because their faces really look like foxes! - They hang upside down to sleep, often with thousands of friends! ## Special abilities - **Forest Gardener:** Rodrigues flying fox can spread seeds widely because of its fruit-rich diet, helping new trees grow across the island. - **Night Vision Master:** Rodrigues flying fox has keen eyesight that helps them find ripe fruits and navigate through the forest in low light. - **Pollinator Power:** Rodrigues flying fox can drink nectar from flowers, helping to pollinate plants as it moves between blossoms. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 20-22 cm - **Wingspan:** 50-90 cm - **Weight:** 0.3-0.35 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-20 years - **Speed:** 40 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1 - **Gestation:** 140-150 days ## Diet & Feeding These bats are fruit-lovers, snacking on sweet fruits, nectar, and flowers from the forest. - **Primary Foods:** Mangoes, Figs, Bananas, Litchis, Nectar, Flowers - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** Mauritius fig (*Ficus mauritiana*) — consumes the fruit, helping disperse seeds widely. - **Eats:** Rose apple (*Syzygium jambos*) — feeds on the juicy fruit, spreading its seeds. - **Eats:** Red Mimusops (*Mimusops balata*) — eats fruits of this native tree, aiding forest regeneration. - **Pollinates:** Chinese hibiscus (*Hibiscus rosasinensis*) — drinks nectar from its flowers, transferring pollen. ## 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. - [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. - [Giant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/giant): Giant describes organisms or objects of significantly larger size than average for their species or type. - [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. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low It's best to watch bats from a distance and not disturb them while they are flying or resting. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Rodrigues flying fox? 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 Rodrigues flying fox? 20-22 cm ### What is Rodrigues flying fox's wingspan? 50-90 cm ### How much does Rodrigues flying fox weigh? 0.3-0.35 kg ### How long does Rodrigues flying fox live? 10-20 years ### How fast can Rodrigues flying fox move? 40 km/h ### What does Rodrigues flying fox eat? These bats are fruit-lovers, snacking on sweet fruits, nectar, and flowers from the forest. ### Where is Rodrigues flying fox usually found? 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: [Rodrigues flying fox: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/rodrigues-flying-fox)