Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Mammal
Habitat
This species inhabits tropical lowland and hill forests on Biak Island and nearby areas in Indonesia. It prefers dense rainforest environments with access to fruiting trees and caves for roosting. They are adapted to island ecosystems, rarely found far from forested areas.
Diet
The Biak naked-backed fruit bat primarily feeds on fruits such as figs, as well as flowers and nectar. They forage nocturnally, using echolocation to locate food sources in the forest canopy. Feeding behavior involves hanging upside down to consume items, which helps in seed dispersal.
Behavior
These bats are social, forming colonies in caves or tree hollows during the day for roosting. They are nocturnal, emerging at dusk to fly and forage over long distances, and exhibit territorial behavior around feeding sites. Notable behaviors include grooming each other in colonies and using echolocation for navigation and hunting.
Conservation Status
The IUCN lists the Biak naked-backed fruit bat as Vulnerable due to habitat loss from deforestation and potential hunting pressures. Population trends are decreasing, with major threats including human encroachment and climate change.