#pteropus

[snototter]

A Seychelles fruit bat (Pteropus seychellensis) stretches its wings in Mahé, Seychelles

by Gary Faulkner

[wenbochenphoto]

The little red flying-fox (Pteropus scapulatus) colony, Northern Territory, Australia.

[scilust]

Bone studies (background version)

[great-and-small]

Don't know if you answers asks but, I could use some assistance.

I wanna know what the average megabat's wingspan to body ratio is. Like I'm working on a fictional bat species and I'm not sure how long their wings should be. It has a body length of 2 feet from head to toes. (And please don't answer with "you decide what it should be" I kinda want to stay somewhat rooted in reality)

If you ever get around to answering this, it'd be greatly appreciated.

Great question- I love speculative biology. However I’m probably not the best person to ask as all of my hands on experience working with megabats was in veterinary school. I only really worked with the genus Pteropus (specifically Malayan flying foxes and one spectacled flying fox). For reference here are two of those individuals I did physical exams and other preventative care for. Both animals live at an AZA accredited facility with spectacular care.

Neither of these photos are great wing shots but I think they can at least kind of illustrate the general body shape of megabats. All of my limited experience with bats consists of medical care and husbandry so I’m afraid I can’t get that much more in the weeds on the actual bat stats when it comes to size ratio. As an educated guess I’d say that your 2 foot long bat would likely have a wingspan well over 6 feet. However, for a more reliable source, I did find this excellent paper (Allometry of Bat Wings and Legs and Comparison with Bird Wings) that has an enormous table documenting the body mass and wing ratio of dozens of bat species. Perhaps this will help in your writing?

[birdblues]

Grey-headed Flying Fox

[massabios]

Pteropus es un género de murciélagos frugívoros conocidos comúnmente como zorros voladores. Habitan las regiones tropicales de África, Asia, Australia y otras islas de Oceanía.

📸por 360pixual donde se puede ver a un madre con su cría.

[mudwerks]

(via Flying Fox facts: the big bois of the skies | Animal Fact Files)

Pteropus

[lazer-t]

Spectacled Flying Fox

This illustration will be November's ko-fi Sticker Club design!

[snototter]

An Indian flying fox (Pteropus medius) stretches on a branch in Fonimagoodhoo, Maldives

by Gary Faulkner

[itaiko]

:0

via lubeebatconservancy on Instagram

[shopcat]

the universal emote /ᐠ - ˕ -マ ...

[sitting-on-me-bum]

Flying foxes (Pteropus vampyrus) hang from the branches of a tree at a garden in Amritsar, India

Photograph: Narinder Nanu/AFP/Getty Images

[animalids]

Black fruit bat (Pteropus alecto)

Photo by Bruce Thomson

[disease]

“FLYING FOX (PTEROPUS MEARNSI)” HENRY HORENSTEIN // 1995–2001 [chromogenic print | 27 × 40"]

[todaysbat]

image description: photos of the Boise Zoo's Indian Flying Fox exhibit. On the left, two Indian flying foxes roosting upside down from the top of their enclosure. On the right, their sign, which reads: "Genus and Species: Pteropus medius Order: Chiroptera Family: Pteropodidae Activity: Indian flying foxes, or giant fruit bats, are one of the largest bat species in the world, with a wingspan stretching over four feet. They help plant growth and disperal by spitting out seeds and dry pulp while eating. Diet: These norturnal bats feed on fruit, flowers, nectar, and the occasional insect. Unlike most bats, they use sight and smell to locate food in low light. Habitat: Tropical forests and swamps near bodies of water and large trees."

source: op's mother

[tobyisave]

The fog comes / on little bat feet 🐾 

Fog the gray-headed flying fox, March 2023

I usually go for realism, but this time I tried making them as cute as I could... I just want people to like bats!! 

~planning sketch below the cut~

These body proportions were a lot more normal.... ^^; I struggled with the crochet for a while because their face didn't go quite how I planned and the rest seemed to follow suit... but when I added hair and a face they kind of became their own thing! I'd still like to attempt the original plan sometime though :P