Bat Zone

There are an estimated 1,400+ bat species. I WILL try to give ALL of them the ATTENTION they deserve.

Suborder: Yinpterochiroptera

Super family: Pteropodoidea

Subfamily: Cynopterina

Genus: Balionycteris

Name: Spotted-winged fruit bat (Balionycteris maculata)

The SMALLEST megabat in the WORLD, found in Indonesia and Malaysia. They have dark brown wings with pale cream polka dots!!! Like a cute flying mushroom. They love elevated rain forests as well as costal mangrove forests. Their favorite foods include figs, persimmons, and spiders 🕷️. Amazing fact???? They peep whilst foraging!!!! They also make complex sounds and squeaks whilst socializing!!!! I think I’ll die of joy UGH. They dig roosts between fern roots, which is super uncommon. Sometimes they will even take over and or termite nests. They can have two pups per year, and don’t form monogamous partnerships. Pups weigh 0.1 oz at birth!!! And grow to 0.46 oz as adults, with a 2 in length. F r e a k i n g t i n y.

Suborder: Yinpterochiroptera

Super family: Pteropodoidea

Subfamily: Cynopterina

Genus: Alionycteris

Name: Mindanao pygmy fruit bat (Alionycteris paucidentata)

Weighing only 0.57 oz with a 2.5 in length 🥺 this little cutie is from the Philippines. They love mossy and montane forests with high elevation. Tourists are stealing their spaces though!!! Thankfully they are not considered to be endangered, but they are vulnerable and moving to higher mountains in the area. Poor little guys. A young / baby Mindanao pygmy fruit bat is called a 'pup', and a Mindanao pygmy fruit bat group is called a 'colony or cloud'. A cloud of bats in a cloud forest 🥹🥹🥹 10/10. This little guy isn’t often photographed so I only found one photo taken in 1969 that I’m certain is of the species. That’s the year they were named!! Ofc it doesn’t do the lil guy justice </3

Suborder: Yinpterochiroptera

Super family: Pteropodoidea

Subfamily: Cynopterina

Genus: Aethalops

Name: Borneo fruit bat (Aethalops aequalis)

This guy is besties with the Pygmy fruit bat 💕 and they live very close to each other. This little guy likes to live in BANANA leaves and in small groups in trees, palm fronds, and man-made structures. First discovered in 1938!!! They have reddish brown fur and are one of the smallest fruit bats <3<3. They LOVE elevation and are only found on Borneo.

Suborder: Yinpterochiroptera

Super family: Pteropodoidea

Subfamily: Cynopterina

Genus: Aethalops

Name: Pygmy fruit bat (Aethalops alecto)

Also known as the grey fruit bat, this little guy happily thrives in Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra (island of western Indonesia) and Java (another Indonesian island). They like the forests!!! Specifically montane forests which are tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, also known as a cloud forests!!! What cuties!!! There aren’t many and they have only been studied a couple times ever!! They weigh 0.5 oz 🥺🥺.

Kingdom: Anamalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Mammalia

Clade: Scrotifera

Order: Chiroptera