Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Mammal
Habitat
The Dayak fruit bat primarily inhabits lowland and hill rainforests in Borneo, Malaysia, and Indonesia. It prefers areas with abundant fruit trees and roosting sites in dense vegetation, typically up to 1,000 meters elevation. This species avoids open areas and is most common in primary and secondary forests.
Diet
The Dayak fruit bat mainly eats fruits such as figs, bananas, and other tropical varieties, which it forages at night. It also consumes nectar and pollen from flowers, using its elongated tongue to access these resources. Feeding behavior involves hovering or landing on fruiting trees, often in groups to exploit food patches.
Behavior
Dayak fruit bats are nocturnal, emerging at dusk to forage in groups, and roost in large colonies during the day in tree hollows or foliage. They exhibit social behaviors like grooming and vocal communication, and are highly territorial around roosting sites. These bats use echolocation for navigation and avoid human disturbance when possible.
Conservation Status
The IUCN lists the Dayak fruit bat as Vulnerable due to ongoing habitat loss from deforestation and agriculture. Population trends indicate a decline, with major threats including palm oil plantations and fragmentation of rainforest habitats.