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Moluccan naked-backed fruit bat

Dobsonia moluccensis

MammalThe IUCN status is Leas…

Taxonomy

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Mammal

Habitat

This species primarily inhabits tropical lowland forests, mangroves, and caves in the Moluccas islands of Indonesia. They prefer areas with abundant fruit trees and roosting sites like caves or tree hollows, often at elevations below 500 meters.

Diet

The Moluccan naked-backed fruit bat feeds mainly on fruits such as figs, bananas, and other ripe tropical fruits, as well as nectar from flowers. They forage at night using echolocation to locate food, often traveling several kilometers from their roosts.

Behavior

These bats are highly social, forming colonies of up to several hundred individuals in caves or tree hollows during the day. They are nocturnal, emerging at dusk to fly long distances in search of food, and exhibit territorial behavior around roosting sites. They use echolocation for navigation and avoid human areas when possible.

Conservation Status

The IUCN status is Least Concern, with a stable population trend, though habitat loss from deforestation poses a major threat in the Moluccas.