# straw-coloured fruit bat (*Eidolon helvum*) The straw-coloured fruit bat is a friendly flying mammal that loves to eat fruits! They have big ears and can be found hanging upside down in trees, making them look like little furry decorations. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Forests - **Also known as:** African Fruit Bat, Eidolon Bat ![straw-coloured fruit bat](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Eidolon_helvum_fg01.JPG&width=800) Photo: Fritz Geller-Grimm, CC BY-SA 2.5 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Eidolon_helvum_fg01.JPG) ## Appearance The straw-coloured fruit bat has yellowish-brown, sometimes golden, fur covering its body. It features large, dark eyes and a distinct dog-like face without any prominent nose-leaf, setting it apart from many other bat species. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Chiroptera - **Family:** Pteropodidae - **Genus:** Eidolon ## Interesting facts - Imagine living in a colony with up to a million other bats in one tree! - These bats taste fruit juice using their long, specially grooved tongues! - They help new trees grow by dropping seeds as they fly after eating fruit! - They travel thousands of miles across Africa each year, following ripening fruit! ## Special abilities - **Long-Distance Flier:** Straw-coloured fruit bats can fly thousands of kilometers because of their strong wings that help them migrate seasonally. - **Fruit Finder:** Straw-coloured fruit bats have an amazing sense of smell that helps them locate ripe, juicy fruits from far away. - **Night Vision:** Straw-coloured fruit bats have large, prominent eyes that help them see very well in the dim light of dusk and night. - **Juice Sipper:** Straw-coloured fruit bats have a long, flexible tongue that helps them lap up nectar and fruit juices efficiently. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 14-22 cm - **Wingspan:** 60-97 cm - **Weight:** 0.23-0.35 kg - **Lifespan:** 15-20 years - **Speed:** 40 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1-2 - **Gestation:** 120-150 days ## Diet & Feeding These bats mostly eat yummy fruits and nectar, helping plants grow as they feed! - **Primary Foods:** Mangoes, Papayas, Guavas, Figs, Nectar - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** Mango (*Mangifera indica*) — Feeds on ripe mangoes, especially during migration. - **Pollinates:** [Baobab](https://www.snappit.app/explore/baobab) (*Adansonia digitata*) — Helps pollinate the flowers of the iconic Baobab tree. - **Eats:** Sycamore Fig (*Ficus sycomorus*) — Relies on figs for food, helping disperse their seeds. - **Eaten by:** Tawny Eagle (*Aquila rapax*) — Can be prey for large birds of prey like the Tawny Eagle. ## 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. - [Aerial](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aerial): Aerial creatures spend a significant portion of their lives airborne, utilizing flight for various activities such as hunting, migration, or nesting. - [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. - [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 Don't try to touch bats in the wild; they are best enjoyed from a distance. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify straw-coloured fruit bat? 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 straw-coloured fruit bat? 14-22 cm ### What is straw-coloured fruit bat's wingspan? 60-97 cm ### How much does straw-coloured fruit bat weigh? 0.23-0.35 kg ### How long does straw-coloured fruit bat live? 15-20 years ### How fast can straw-coloured fruit bat move? 40 km/h ### What does straw-coloured fruit bat eat? These bats mostly eat yummy fruits and nectar, helping plants grow as they feed! ### Where is straw-coloured fruit bat usually found? Forests ## Where to spot - [Reed College Parkway](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/reed-college-parkway) — Oregon, US · Park ## 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: [Straw-coloured Fruit Bat: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/straw-coloured-fruit-bat)