Head to head
Jamaican Fruit Bat vs Egyptian Fruit Bat
Jamaican Fruit Bat
VS Egyptian Fruit Bat
The Jamaican fruit bat and Egyptian fruit bat are both common fruit-eating bats that spread seeds, but they belong to different bat families on different sides of the Atlantic.
| Jamaican Fruit Bat | Egyptian Fruit Bat | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Artibeus jamaicensis | Rousettus aegyptiacus |
| Range | Forests and woodlands from Mexico through Central America to northern South America and the Caribbean | Savanna and forest across sub-Saharan Africa and into parts of the Middle East |
| Family | A New World leaf-nosed bat, with a small leaf-shaped flap of skin on its nose | An Old World fruit bat |
| Diet | Ripe fruit, especially figs, along with some pollen and leaves | Soft fruit, nectar, and pollen |
| Roost | Caves, hollow trees, and other shelters, often in groups, with males guarding small groups of females | Dense colonies in caves, sometimes numbering in the thousands |
| Ecological role | Drops seeds as it flies, helping tropical forests regrow | Pollinates flowers and disperses the seeds of many fruiting trees |
| Distinctive feature | Pale stripes along its face above and below the eyes | One of the few fruit bats that echolocates, clicking its tongue in dark caves |
| Conservation status | Least Concern, widespread and common | Least Concern, widespread and locally abundant |
Jamaican Fruit Bat vs Egyptian Fruit Bat: common questions
Which fruit bat echolocates?
The Egyptian fruit bat, which clicks its tongue to echolocate in dark caves, an ability shared by very few other fruit bats.
Which fruit bat eats figs?
The Jamaican fruit bat feeds mainly on ripe fruit, especially figs, and drops the seeds as it flies.
Where do the Jamaican fruit bat and Egyptian fruit bat live?
The Jamaican fruit bat lives from Mexico through Central America to northern South America and the Caribbean, while the Egyptian fruit bat lives across sub-Saharan Africa and into parts of the Middle East.