Subscribe to
"Animal of the day"

AddThis Feed Button
Or subscribe by e-mail

Enter your Email


Powered by FeedBlitz

We hope that reader will gain an increased appreciation of the need for more conservation measure in order to protect the beautiful creatures that inhabit the earth. Our philosophy is that the more we learn about animals, the more we respect them and take better care of them. That is why we update this blog with new animals, We encourage you to syndicate our content by adding "animal of the day" to your own blog! (read more)

About us

Our mission is to get people excited about animals and their welfare by writing articles on these animals. We encourage people to comment on posts and share with others. Don't forget to subscribe to our feed.

Contact us
Copyright notice

Cutest pet ever - cutest pet contest

Funny animal videos and pictures

Swimming with manatees - harmful or helpful

Calendar

« March 2024
S M T W T F S
          1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31            

Archives

Next Archive

01 May - 31 May 2013
01 Apr - 30 Apr 2013
01 Mar - 31 Mar 2013
01 Feb - 28 Feb 2013
01 Jan - 31 Jan 2013
01 Dec - 31 Dec 2012
01 Nov - 30 Nov 2012
01 Oct - 31 Oct 2012
01 Sep - 30 Sep 2012
01 Aug - 31 Aug 2012
01 Jul - 31 Jul 2012
01 Jun - 30 Jun 2012
01 May - 31 May 2012
01 Apr - 30 Apr 2012
01 Mar - 31 Mar 2012
01 Feb - 28 Feb 2012
01 Jan - 31 Jan 2012
01 Dec - 31 Dec 2011
01 Nov - 30 Nov 2011
01 Oct - 31 Oct 2011
01 Sep - 30 Sep 2011
01 Aug - 31 Aug 2011
01 Jul - 31 Jul 2011
01 Jun - 30 Jun 2011
01 May - 31 May 2011
01 Apr - 30 Apr 2011
01 Mar - 31 Mar 2011
01 Feb - 28 Feb 2011
01 Jan - 31 Jan 2011
01 Dec - 31 Dec 2010
01 Nov - 30 Nov 2010
01 Oct - 31 Oct 2010
01 Sep - 30 Sep 2010
01 Aug - 31 Aug 2010
01 Jul - 31 Jul 2010
01 Apr - 30 Apr 2010
01 Mar - 31 Mar 2010
01 Feb - 28 Feb 2010
01 Jan - 31 Jan 2010
01 Nov - 30 Nov 2009
01 Oct - 31 Oct 2009
01 Sep - 30 Sep 2009
01 Aug - 31 Aug 2009
01 Jul - 31 Jul 2009
01 Jun - 30 Jun 2009
01 May - 31 May 2009
01 Mar - 31 Mar 2009
01 Feb - 28 Feb 2009
01 Jan - 31 Jan 2009
01 Dec - 31 Dec 2008
01 Nov - 30 Nov 2008
01 Oct - 31 Oct 2008
01 Sep - 30 Sep 2008
01 Aug - 31 Aug 2008
01 Jul - 31 Jul 2008
01 Apr - 30 Apr 2008
01 Mar - 31 Mar 2008
01 Feb - 28 Feb 2008
01 Jan - 31 Jan 2008
01 Dec - 31 Dec 2007
01 Nov - 30 Nov 2007
01 Oct - 31 Oct 2007
01 Sep - 30 Sep 2007
01 Aug - 31 Aug 2007
01 Jul - 31 Jul 2007
01 Jun - 30 Jun 2007
01 May - 31 May 2007
01 Apr - 30 Apr 2007
01 Mar - 31 Mar 2007
01 Feb - 28 Feb 2007
01 Jan - 31 Jan 2007
01 Dec - 31 Dec 2006
01 Nov - 30 Nov 2006
01 Oct - 31 Oct 2006
01 Sep - 30 Sep 2006
01 Aug - 31 Aug 2006
01 Jul - 31 Jul 2006
01 May - 31 May 2006
01 Apr - 30 Apr 2006
01 Mar - 31 Mar 2006
01 Feb - 28 Feb 2006
01 Jan - 31 Jan 2006
01 Dec - 31 Dec 2005
01 Nov - 30 Nov 2005
01 Oct - 31 Oct 2005
01 Sep - 30 Sep 2005
01 Aug - 31 Aug 2005
01 Jul - 31 Jul 2005

Animal pictures
Mammals.start4all.com
Animal diversity web
Recently extinct animals forum
Another chance to see

Miscellany

AddThis Feed Button

Monday 27 April 2009 Spectacled flying-fox

Spectacled flying-foxThe Spectacled Flying-fox (Pteropus conspicillatus) is a large fruit bat which is also called the Spectacled Fruit Bat, or Spectacled Bat. It lives on the islands of Woodlark, Alcester, Kiriwina, and Halmahera in New Guinea, and is also found in Queensland Australia. This species of bat is listed as a threatened species in the CEPBCA act of 1999 in Australia, and are considered vulnerable because of a decline in numbers from habitat loss, however as a worldwide species the IUCN lists them as being of least concern due to population distribution and stability. This means that although the populations in Queensland are in danger, the species as a whole is not going to go extinct in the near or median future.

Their length from head to toe is 8-9 inches (20-25cm) and they weigh 2.2lbs on average (1kg). They are a large and black bat, and have a grayish yellow striped fur around their eyes, while their mantle is also this same color and follows along their back, their neck, and their shoulders. Coloration varies from individual, and some seem paler, while others more yellowish in color. They have a very sensitive sense of smell, and very good eyesight. Because they are a fruit bat they do not rely on echolocation to track insects - they don’t eat them. Instead they prefer to eat fruit, blossoms, and nectar. Their favorite roosting locations are in the canopies of trees in rainforests, such as mangroves, eucalyptus, or paperbark while in the sun, and colonies can number in the hundreds. They prefer to stay close to these locations as they offer abundant sources of food, shelter, and places to roost at night. When they leave at dusk, they can travel as far as 43 miles (70 kilometers) in search of food.

The Binomial Name of the Spectacled Flying-fox is Pteropus conspicillatus, and it belongs to the Genus Pteropus. Within Pteropus there are roughly 64 known species of bat, and are the largest bats alive in wingspan; almost all of the species of bats in this genus are threatened. Pteropus belongs to the Subfamily Pteropodinae, which has around 36 known genera. Pteropodinae belongs to the Family Pteropodidae, which belongs to the Suborder Megachiroptera or fruit bats also known as megabats. Megachiroptera belongs to the Order Chiroptera - this is all bats. Under the revised model of mammals, yet to be adopted, Chiroptera belongs to the Superorder Laurasiatheria, which then includes the carnivores, cows, camels and many more. Laurasiatheria belongs to Eutheria - the placental mammals, which include the primates and their relatives (us). Eutheria belongs to Theria, which are all the mammals with the exception of the monotremes.

Interesting Facts about the Spectacled Flying Fox

Like many other megabats, the Spectacled Flying Fox may drink ocean water on the way to the forests to feed, sustaining flight and keeping thirst down. However, for humans to drink seawater without first filtering it - it would cause more thirst, and possibly dehydration.

Photo of the baby Spectacled flying-fox taken at the Tolga Bat Hospital, Australia by Mnolf, licensed under GFDL & CC ShareAlike 2.0 You can help spreading the word about this animal by liking it on facebook

Permanent Link