Sundaic Black-capped Fruit Bat

Description

A small Sundaic fruit bat with a striking dark 'hood' on the head that contrasts with the rest of the body, roosting anywhere from near the ground to high up in the forest canopy.

How to identify it

Very small, tailless, body 5.5-7.2 cm, ears 11-15 mm and forearm 44-48 mm; weight 16-20 g. Has a dark patch on the head contrasting with the rest of the fur, the feature that gives the Sundaic Black-capped Fruit Bat its English common name.

Signs and tracks

Roosts in small groups among tree ferns and in shallow caves; tracks and signs may be found in both the understorey and canopy, between 15 and 30 m up, in primary dipterocarp forest.

Habitat and range

Lowland dipterocarp forest and coastal forest, from Thailand and Peninsular Malaysia to Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi and Borneo.

Diet

Frugivorous; feeds on a variety of small understorey and canopy fruits.

Behaviour

Roosts in small groups among tree ferns, shallow caves or high in the forest canopy, depending on local shelter availability.

Conservation

Widespread species classed as Least Concern, with no evidence of significant decline.

Threats

No major threats identified at a global scale.

Other accounts in Pteropodidae

• African Straw-colored Fruit BatEidolon helvum
• Blanford's Fruit BatSphaerias blanfordi
• Common Dayak Fruit BatDyacopterus spadiceus
• Egyptian RousetteRousettus aegyptiacus
• Geoffroy's RousetteRousettus amplexicaudatus
• Gray-headed Flying FoxPteropus poliocephalus
• Greater Long-tongued Blossom BatMacroglossus sobrinus
• Greater Short-nosed Fruit BatCynopterus sphinx
• Horsfield's Short-nosed Fruit BatCynopterus horsfieldii
• Island Flying FoxPteropus hypomelanus
• Large Flying FoxPteropus vampyrus
• Leschenault's RousetteRousettus leschenaultii

See all species accounts for bats · Full species index