# Large Flying Fox (*Pteropus vampyrus*)

> The large flying fox (Pteropus vampyrus) is a fruit bat with a 1.5 m wingspan that roosts in vast Southeast Asian colonies. Adults weigh about 1.1 kg, pollinate trees and disperse seeds, and are listed Endangered from hunting and habitat loss.

- **Category:** Mammal
- **Conservation status (IUCN):** Endangered
- **Range:** Southeast Asian forests from Malaysia and Indonesia to the Philippines.
- **Canonical page:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/flying-fox/
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16

## Scientific classification

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Chordata
- **Class:** Mammalia
- **Order:** Chiroptera
- **Family:** Pteropodidae
- **Genus:** Pteropus

## Facts at a glance

| Attribute | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Scientific name | Pteropus vampyrus |
| Diet | Herbivore (fruit and nectar) |
| Habitat | Mangroves and tropical forest |
| Lifespan | 15–25 years |
| Weight | 0.9–1.3 kg |
| Top speed | up to 35 km/h |
| Conservation status | Endangered (IUCN) |

## Megabat of island forests

Unlike insect-eating microbats, flying foxes have dog-like faces, large eyes, and no echolocation for fruit. They fly long distances nightly to flowering and fruiting trees.

## Nectar, pollen, and fruit

Figs, durian, bananas, and nectar sustain colonies that may number tens of thousands. Spit-out seeds and pollen dusting make them key forest regenerators.

## Southeast Asian roosts

Mangroves and lowland forest from Malaysia and Indonesia to the Philippines. Daytime roosts in tall trees can blanket entire riverbanks.

## Endangered by bushmeat trade

IUCN lists the species Endangered. Hunting for bushmeat and persecution near orchards shrink colonies; legal protection and roost sanctuaries are critical.

## Frequently asked questions

### Are flying foxes related to foxes?

No — the name refers to their fox-like faces; they are fruit bats in the genus Pteropus.

### Do flying foxes use echolocation?

They rely on vision and smell to find fruit, not the ultrasonic echolocation of insect-eating bats.

### Why are flying foxes important to forests?

They pollinate flowers and disperse large seeds over long distances, especially for figs and durian.

### How big is a large flying fox wingspan?

Up to about 1.5 m — among the largest bats in the world.

### Why are flying foxes Endangered?

Hunting, habitat loss, and conflict with fruit growers have collapsed many roosts across Southeast Asia.

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Source: Global Animal Guide (https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/flying-fox/). Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 — free for non-commercial reuse with attribution.