Giant golden-crowned flying fox

Gold Crown Flying Fox ( Acerodon jubatus )

The Gold Crown Flying Fox ( Acerodon jubatus ) is a mammal of the family of fruit bats ( Pteropodidae ). He is considered one of the greatest living bats.

Features

Gold Crown bats reach a body length of up to 29 centimeters, a tail is missing as with almost all bats. The wingspan is about 1.5 to 1.7 meters and the weight of adult animals varies between 0.7 and 1.2 kilograms. ( Whether he is really the greatest Fledertier is controversial, even by Kalong and the Indian giant flying dog similar in size are known. )

In the body it corresponds to the other fruit bats, the flying membrane is tensioned by the extended second to fifth fingers and reaches to the ankles. The muzzle is extended and " dog " similar and the ears are small. The coat is dark colored, eponymous feature is the orange - yellow colored head and neck, the shoulders may be yellowish.

Distribution and habitat

These bats are endemic to the Philippines, where they are distributed with the exception of the region surrounding the island of Palawan in the entire archipelago. Their habitat are rainforests and mangrove areas from sea level to 1100 meters above sea level.

Way of life

Gold Crown bats are like most bats nocturnal. For sleeping they depend in large colonies usually on trees, often on small islands. From the 1930s, there are reports of colonies that have 150,000 animals including; now the groups are far smaller due to the danger of the species.

In the evening they go in search of food, often long distances - can travel - even over the sea. The food of these animals consists of fruits, preferably figs.

Little is known about the reproduction of these animals. Once a year - usually in May or June - the female gives birth, a single young is born. Sexual maturity occurs two years.

Endangering

The gold crown flying fox is one of the endangered species. The reasons for this are firstly the progressive destruction of its habitat, the other in the hunting for its meat. In many regions of the Philippines, the stocks have declined dramatically in some places the species is entirely gone. Larger stocks of gold crown flying fox live among others in the Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park, the Hamiguitan and Mount Kalatungan Range Natural Park. The IUCN lists the species as endangered ( endangered ).