Length:  25cm / 10 inches
Wingspan:  100cm / 39 inches

Introduction
Fruit bats are widespread endemic residents of the Seychelles archipelago and are commonly found in wooded habits on all the larger islands.  They often fly from island to island, which is dictated by the availability of fruit.

Identification
The Seychelles fruit bat is a very large unmistakable bat with broad wings, which flies with slow, deliberate beats.  The adult has large dark eyes, a bright yellow-orange furry head and body, with contrasting black wings, lower back and muzzle.  The juvenile is almost identical in appearance to the adult, but is smaller and less bright

Voice
Fruit bats are incredibly noisy creatures, especially when feeding in groups at night.  They can be identified by a range of piercing shrieks, wing claps and chattering sounds.

Behaviour
These bats stay true to their name by feeding exclusively on fruits and nectar.  In typical bat fashion, they spend a proportionate amount of the day hanging upside down from branches in communal resting trees.  Like all bats, they are most active during the night, although they can often be spotted during early morning or at dusk flying over mountains or making sea crossings.

Photographs kindly provided by Ralph Pannell, Hubris Nemesis

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