What is the Difference Between Flying Fox and Bats?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚Flying foxes and bats are both true flying mammals with lightweight bodies, but they have some differences in their characteristics and habits. Here are the main differences between flying foxes and bats:
- Size and diet: Flying foxes, also known as fruit bats, are generally larger than other bats and are herbivorous, feeding primarily on fruit and nectar. In contrast, about 70% of bats are insectivorous, feeding on insects.
- Echolocation: Flying foxes do not use echolocation, while many other bat species do.
- Eyes: Flying foxes have large eyes, which help them see in low-light conditions and locate fruit and nectar sources.
- Tail: Most bats, except flying foxes, have a tail.
- Arterial and nervous systems: Flying foxes have primate-like arterial and nervous systems, which are not present in other bat species.
- Taxonomy: Flying foxes belong to the suborder Megachiroptera, while other bats belong to the suborder Microchiroptera.
In summary, flying foxes are a type of bat known for their larger size, herbivorous diet, lack of echolocation, large eyes, and primate-like arterial and nervous systems. They play an essential role in pollination and seed dispersal for many plant species.
Comparative Table: Flying Fox vs Bats
Flying foxes and bats are both members of the order Chiroptera, which means "hand-wing" in Greek. However, they have some differences in their characteristics and habits. Here is a table comparing the differences between flying foxes and bats:
| Feature | Flying Foxes | Bats (Microbats) |
|---|---|---|
| Diet | Frugivorous (fruit-eating) and nectivorous (nectar-eating) | Insectivorous, carnivorous, or omnivorous |
| Echolocation | Some flying foxes use echolocation, but not as advanced as microbats | Echolocation is more advanced in microbats |
| Size | Generally larger than microbats | Smaller than flying foxes |
| Fur and Coloration | Flying foxes often have furry bodies and wings | Microbats may have fur or membranes for wings, with various colorations |
Flying foxes are a type of bat, but not all bats are flying foxes. Bats can be divided into two groups based on echolocation: microbats and megabats. Flying foxes, such as the Grey-headed Flying-fox and Spectacled Flying-fox, are megabats. They are primarily nectar-feeders and play an essential role in the pollination of many different plant species. On the other hand, microbats have more advanced echolocation abilities and can be insectivorous, carnivorous, or omnivorous.