Mammals
Indian Flying Fox
Pteropus giganteus · also called greater Indian fruit bat
At dusk, a colony of Indian flying foxes lifts off from its exposed treetop roost in a noisy wave, scattering across the forest to forage for fruit through the night, each one navigating entirely by sight rather than sound.
Overview
The Indian flying fox, Pteropus giganteus, is one of the largest bats in the world, native to forest and wetland habitat across the Indian subcontinent, including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. Its enormous daytime treetop colonies, reliance on sight rather than echolocation, and vulnerability to extreme heat make it one of the more distinctive and increasingly climate-sensitive bats found anywhere in South Asia.
A giant among bats that never leaves the light
Unlike most bats that vanish into caves or hollow trees, the Indian flying fox hangs openly from exposed branches in massive daytime colonies, a striking sight made possible by its size and its complete lack of reliance on darkness-dependent echolocation.
Status
Least Concern overall, though populations are declining in some regions due to hunting, habitat loss, and an increasing frequency of extreme heat events affecting roosting colonies.
Indian Flying Fox: common questions
How big does the Indian flying fox get?
This species is among the largest bats alive, with a wingspan that can stretch well over a metre across, making it one of the more visually striking mammals found roosting openly in daylight across South Asia's forests and wetlands.
Why does the Indian flying fox roost in large colonies?
This species roosts by day in large, noisy colonies of thousands hanging from exposed treetops, a strategy that offers safety in numbers before individuals disperse at dusk to forage separately across considerable distances in search of fruit.
Why are Indian flying foxes vulnerable to heatwaves?
This species is highly sensitive to extreme heat, and mass die-offs have been documented during severe heatwaves when temperatures exceed what roosting colonies can tolerate, a growing concern as extreme heat events become more frequent across its range.
How does the Indian flying fox find food without echolocation?
This species has large, well-developed eyes and does not use echolocation at all, instead relying on strong night vision and a keen sense of smell to locate ripening fruit and flowers across the forests and wetlands it inhabits.