Pteropus alecto Temminck, 1837

Common Name and Pelage

Pteropus alecto Temminck, 1835, commonly called the black flying fox, has short black fur marked by a distinct contrasting reddish-brown mantle.

Size Measurements

This species has an average forearm length of 164 mm (6.46 in), an average body weight of 710 g (1.57 lb), and a wingspan exceeding 1 metre (39 in). It is counted among the largest bat species in the world.

Geographical Distribution

Black flying foxes are native to Australia (found in New South Wales, Queensland, the Northern Territory, and Western Australia), Papua New Guinea (found in Western Province), and Indonesia (found in West Papua, Sulawesi, Sumba, and Savu).

Breeding Frequency

Black flying foxes breed once per year.

Offspring Rearing

Females give birth to a single young, which the mother carries for the first month of the young's life. After this first month, the young is left in the roost while the mother forages at night.