Ryukyu Flying-fox (Pteropus dasymallus) lives in tropical rainforest across East Asia islands. It feeds on fruits and nectar. Its conservation status is Vulnerable.
Fascinating facts about the Ryukyu Flying-fox
- Its droppings can carry seeds as far as 1,833 m from the tree they came from, allowing plants to colonise new ground far beyond the parent canopy. After eating fruit at night, the bat excretes the seeds in its guano while flying, so the dispersal occurs during its nocturnal foraging trips. This long-range seed placement boosts regeneration of forest species across the landscape.
- It feeds on the fruits of at least 53 different plant species, making fruit a central part of its diet. In addition, it regularly eats the flowers of 20 species, the leaves of 18 species and even the bark of one plant, showing a surprisingly varied palate. Observations have also recorded consumption of eight different insect species, indicating occasional animal protein intake.
- Farmers in two villages reported that the bats cost citrus growers 19 million yen each year, a loss that fuels calls for control. Many Japanese farmers therefore label the Ryukyu flying fox a pest and argue for culling to protect orchards. Temminck's original description even claimed the species "devastates" orchards, prompting Okinawa Prefecture to launch an investigation in 2012.
- The Ryukyu flying fox has a wingspan of 1.24-1.41 m, making it a little smaller than the Indian flying fox. It weighs between 400 g and 500 g and its forearm measures about 140 mm, giving it a compact yet powerful build. As a nocturnal animal it leaves its daytime roosts in trees to hunt for fruit after dark, often flying alone or in small groups. This night-time foraging lets it travel long distances, spreading seeds far from the parent trees.
- The species name dasymallus comes from the Ancient Greek words dasús meaning 'hairy' and mallós meaning 'woolly', a reference to its distinctive fur. When Coenraad Jacob Temminck first described the bat in 1825, he highlighted its long, woolly coat as a key characteristic. The name reflects the animal's thick, reddish-brown hair that gives its body an almost woolly appearance. Five subspecies are recognised, each tied to island populations across its range.
Sources
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At a glance
RangeEast Asia islands
HabitatTropical rainforest
DietFruits and nectar
About the Ryukyu Flying-fox
In the twilight skies above the lush forests of the Ryukyu Islands, a majestic creature stirs, its leathery wings unfolding like dark umbrellas as the Ryukyu Flying-fox takes to the air. With a slow, deliberate beat, it propels itself through the night, its large eyes scanning the landscape below for the sweet nectar and ripe fruit that sustain it, a true marvel of evolution in a world where the boundaries between mammal and bird are blissfully blurred. As it soars, its very existence is a testament to the fragile beauty of a species that teeters on the brink of vulnerability.
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