FRUIT BAT

Pteropodidae.

As their name suggests, these bats' diet consists mainly of fruit and juice. Unlike other bats, fruit bats don't rely on echolocation to navigate the night; instead, they have large eyes to see in twilight and a highly developed sense of smell to locate fruit and nectar from flowers. Fruit bats vary in size from 2 1/2 inches with a wingspan of 5-6 inches to 16 inches long with a wingspan of 5 feet.

Bats are the only mammals that can truly fly. This short-nosed fruit bat is found both in tropical forests and in areas where fruit crops are cultivated. They disperse seeds and pollinate flowers, but also inflict serious damage on many fruit crops. Of the 750 species found worldwide, populations of some in this region are threatened due to local people comsuming them for food.

This item has been legally imported and can be legally sold according to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.