Facts About the Egyptian Fruit Bat
Egyptian fruit bats are among the smallest of fruit bats and are part of the subspecies known as Old World fruit bats. Aside from Egypt and western Africa, they are found in southern and eastern Africa, Pakistan, and various other regions throughout the Middle East.
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Appearance
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Egyptian fruit bats are brown in color, with large eyes and faces that resemble those of dogs.
Size and Life Span
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The maximum length of the Egyptian fruit bat ranges from 3 3/4 to 7 inches, with a maximum wingspan of 12 to 14 inches. It can weigh between 2.9 and 6 oz., and has an average life span of eight to 10 years in the wild. In captivity, it can live more than 20 years.
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Habitat
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Unlike other Old World fruit bats, the Egyptian fruit bat prefers to roost in caves and dark spaces, rather than trees. They also prefer large colonies and have been found in such spots as the Egyptian pyramids and inside the walls of ancient Roman aqueducts.
Diet
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Egyptian fruit bats especially enjoy consuming fruit juice and flower nectar. They will fly great distances to find ripe fruit in season--such as ripe figs--and they assist with plant pollination as they gather nectar.
Reproduction
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Female Egyptian fruit bats generally give birth to one offspring at a time, although twins occur occasionally. Breeding season, in general, is between December and March, and babies begin to fly on their own between the ages of two and three months.
Unique Echolocation
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Like other bats, Egyptian fruit bats use sonar (called "echolocation") to navigate at night. However, they are the only bat known to use echolocation that is audible to the human ear.
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