Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Mammal
Habitat
This species primarily inhabits tropical rainforests and monsoon forests in northern Australia and Papua New Guinea. They prefer lowland areas with dense vegetation and fruit-bearing trees, often roosting in foliage or hollows. Geographic range is limited to regions with high humidity and year-round warmth.
Diet
Keast's tube-nosed fruit bat feeds mainly on fruits such as figs, melons, and other soft pulps, using its sensitive nose to locate food by scent. They are nocturnal foragers, active at dusk and night, and may supplement their diet with nectar and occasional insects. Feeding behavior involves hovering or landing on fruit to consume it.
Behavior
These bats are primarily nocturnal, emerging at night to forage and roost in small groups or alone in tree foliage during the day. They exhibit territorial behavior around feeding areas and use echolocation for navigation and locating food. Social interactions are minimal, with individuals often solitary except during mating.
Conservation Status
According to the IUCN Red List, Nyctimene keasti is classified as Least Concern with a stable population trend. Major threats include habitat destruction from deforestation and agriculture.