Egyptian fruit bat

Nilflughund ( Rousettus aegyptiacus )

The Nilflughund ( Rousettus aegyptiacus ) is the only representative of bats, which is to be found in Europe. Its range extends from Egypt and the Arab region to the south of Turkey and Cyprus. In Cyprus, there were in the 1970s still quite large colonies, after heavy hunting ( the bats are considered plantation pests) but decreased the stocks decreased substantially, so that today only small colonies are found with a maximum of 20 animals. The total population of the Nilflughundes but is considered safely.

Features

The Nilflughund part with a maximum length of about 170 mm of the medium sized fruit bat species, but it is significantly larger than all European bats ( with a maximum of 110 mm in length, the giant noctule ( Nyctalus lasiopterus ) the largest species in Europe). He is gray -brown, the underside is much brighter. The wing membranes of the animals put on in the flank, by the back of the animals is very narrow.

Way of life

Like most bats are also the Nilflughunde pure fruit eaters. In this case, there is a large part of their food from unripe fruits which have been damaged by insects or fungi. Your favorite foods are obviously figs, followed by oranges, dates, bananas, and the young leaves of the carob tree.

Nilflughunde as disease carriers

In 2005, Eric discovered by the Centre International de Recherches Leroy Médicales de Franceville ( CIRMF ) in Gabon that Nilflughunde for Ebola viruses are the natural reservoir. 2007 found one that Nilflughunde are apparently also the natural reservoir for Marburg virus. The investigated Nilflughunde originated in both cases from caves in Gabon and the Republic of Congo.