WildlifeOfEverywhere.com
‹ Back

Cave Nectar Bat

Pteropodidae

Photo: Mike Gordon — wildlifeofeverywhere.com

Eonycteris spelaea

Basic stats

Diet

Nectar and pollen; at least thirteen plant taxa, including banana and jackfruit

Habitat

Caves, in large groups

Range

Bangladesh, India and China through Southeast Asia to Timor-Leste

Size

Head and body 8.5–11cm; tail 1.5–1.8cm; forearm 6–7cm

The cave nectar bat, also called the dawn bat or lesser dawn bat, is a fruit bat with grey-brown to dark brown or black upperparts, paler underparts, a neck sometimes yellowish brown and an external tail. The muzzle is elongated and adapted for drinking nectar. Head and body length is 8.5–11 cm, the tail 1.5–1.8 cm and the forearm 6–7 cm (Wikipedia, general species account).

It roosts in caves in large groups, some roosts exceeding 50,000 animals, and sometimes with other bat species. It feeds on nectar and pollen of at least thirteen kinds of plant and pollinates commercially important crops such as banana and jackfruit, and which plants it uses depends on what grows near its roost. The cached account gives no breeding information (Wikipedia, general species account).

Quick answers

What does the Cave Nectar Bat eat?
Nectar and pollen; at least thirteen plant taxa, including banana and jackfruit
What habitat does the Cave Nectar Bat live in?
Caves, in large groups
Where is the Cave Nectar Bat found?
Bangladesh, India and China through Southeast Asia to Timor-Leste
How big is the Cave Nectar Bat?
Head and body 8.5–11cm; tail 1.5–1.8cm; forearm 6–7cm
📷 Upload a photo of this species
🏠Home 🗺️Places 🐾Species 📋Planner 📷Sightings 🔍Search