Egyptian Fruit Bat
Scientific Name
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Order
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Habitat
Estimated Wild Population
More Information
Physical Description
Egyptian fruit bats have light-brown bodies, dark brown wings, a long muzzle, and a two-foot wingspan. True to their name, these nocturnal mammals feed almost exclusively on soft fruits, such as dates, apples, and apricots. Female give birth to only one offspring, on average, after a gestation period of 105–120 days. Young bats cling to the female for around three weeks, until they can hang from branches on their own, and begin flying after three months.
Interesting Fact 1
In Africa, Egyptian fruit bat colonies can include up to 9,000 individuals.
Interesting Fact 2
Bats of the Rousettus genus, including Egyptian fruit bats, are the only fruit-eating bats that navigate using echolocation.
Interesting Fact 3
When these bats fight over roosting spots, females, and food, the scuffle resembles boxing; they strike each other repeatedly with half-open wings.
Species Survival Plan®
We cooperate with other members of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums to manage the zoo population of this species through a Species Survival Plan®.
Commitment to Care
Lincoln Park Zoo prioritizes individual well-being over everything else. Guided by scientific research, staff and volunteers work to provide the best welfare outcomes for each individual in the zoo’s care.
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Wish List
The Wish List is full of one-of-a-kind items for the zoo’s animals, including nutritious snacks and enrichment items to keep them active and healthy.
Take Action With Us
Wildlife face many daunting challenges—some global, like planet-wide climate change, and some that affect individuals, like an animal ingesting plastic—but now is not the time to despair. None of these problems are too big for us to come together and solve.
