#pteropus

A group of little red flying foxes (Pteropus scapulatus) roosting together in Nitmiluk National Park, NT, Australia

Spectacled flying foxes (Pteropus conspicillatus) in Yungaburra, Queensland, Australia

Also known as Pteropus medius, although the taxonomic nomenclature of the species has been confused for centuries, largely due to Linnaeus calling the Large Flying-Fox Vespertilio vampyrus back in the day, and various writers trying to update the binomials since then.

One of the largest bats in the world, with a 1.5m wingspan. Giganteus is well-earned.

Found across the Indian Subcontinent, including Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Tibet, the Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

Its relationship with humans is complicated - variously culled as fruit-stealing vermin, treated as sacred, hunted for food or as medicine, and as a vector of Nipah Virus where they contaminate date palm sap that is being collected to drink.

Sexually mature after 18-24 months. After a gestation period of 140-150 days, the mother will carry the pup for the first few weeks of life, with weaning after about 5 months. Young bats learn to fly around 11 weeks of age. Enthusiastic providers of oral sex for females and males of their species. Good for them.

An Indian flying fox (Pteropus medius) stretches on a branch in Fonimagoodhoo, Maldives