Dawn Bat Facts

Dawn bats (Eonycteris spelaea) are small nocturnal fruit bats known for their long tongues. Their long muzzles, large eyes and small ears give these common bats a dog-like appearance.

Geography

The range of dawn bats extends throughout most of southern Asia, including southern China, Indonesia, southwest India, Malaysia and Borneo.

Habitat

Dawn bats roost in limestone caves in lowland forests and mangrove forests. They are most often found in open areas of these forests, as well as in agricultural areas.

Diet

Dawn bats feed primarily on plant nectar and fruits. When feeding on fruits, dawn bats prefer ripe or overripe fruits. The long tongue of the dawn bat is covered in small barb-like projections that allow it to better pick up pollen and nectar.

Behavior

Dawn bats roost in groups that can range from a few dozen to thousands of individual bats. At night these bats will leave their roosting sites to feed, often traveling up to 24 miles searching for food.

Fun Fact

Dawn bats are essential to their forest ecosystem, as they pollinate and disperse the seeds of many different species of plants.

References

• Blue Planet Biomes: Dawn Bat
• University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: Eonycteris Spelaea