Fun Little Red Flying Fox Facts For Kids

Ever heard of flying foxes? Wondering if it is a fox or one of the flying species? A little red flying fox is also known as a little red flying fox bat. It is one of the Australian flying fox species. It was first documented by Peters in 1862.

It is one of the smallest species of mega-bats found in Australia. The distribution of the population is from New South Wales in western Australia, through Queensland, and concentrating in the northern Australian region.

Little red flying foxes are gregarious species as they roost in large camps near and on trees. Their camps constantly move around trees, but do not stay at a place for more than four to six weeks.

They are nocturnal in nature as are recorded to be active at night. The diet of the little red flying fox is primarily herbivorous, folivorous or frugivorous, as its food mainly comprises the nectar of blossoms and flowers of trees of eucalypt forests.

If the uniqueness of a little red flying fox makes you interested to read more about similar species, you can read about the Rodrigues flying fox and the hoary bat.

Little Red Flying Fox Interesting Facts

What type of animal is a little red flying fox?

A little red flying fox, Pteropus scapulatus, is the smallest species of Australian flying bats from the family Pteropodidae. It is also known by various names such as red flying fox little bat, collared flying fox, or fruit bat.

What class of animal does a little red flying fox belong to?

Little red flying foxes belong to the genus Pteropus. They are bats with heads similar to that of simple dogs. Little red flying fox bats are prominent species of pollinators.

How many little red flying foxes are there in the world?

While there are as many as 65 species of flying bats, there are no reports specifying the range and distribution of Australian fruit bats. The bats are nomadic in nature and quite difficult to track. Little red flying foxes are considered to be vulnerable due to lack of feeding areas and destruction of their habitat.

Where does a little red flying fox live?

While the little red flying foxes dominate northern Australia in Queensland, the distribution of population further ranges from New South Wales in western Australia to northern Victoria in the south of Australia. The camps of little red flying foxes are found close to the ground, primarily in the Australian eucalypt forests.

What is a little red flying fox's habitat?

The native habitat of the little red flying fox comprises semi-arid, tropical, subtropical, and temperate regions. It migrates in its respective camp from coastal regions towards dry islands during a particular season. While it is one of the extremely mobile animals, it does not live at a place for more than four to six weeks.

Who do little red flying foxes live with?

Little red flying foxes are gregarious animals found in camps. Each camp comprises up to 30 individuals. They roost in individual camps, mating and feeding near the ground in the Australian eucalypt forests. They also share camps with other Australian flying foxes.

How long does a little red flying fox live?

While little red flying fox lifespan remains undeciphered, flying foxes, in general, are recorded to live up to 15 years in the wild, and up to 30 years in captivity.

How do they reproduce?

Little red flying fox mating takes place in camps comprising 100,000 individuals. The mating season of little red fox flying ranges from November to January, while the young population is born in April-May. The young bats start flying in two months. The female bat looks after its young ones for up to several months.

What is their conservation status?

Little red flying foxes are listed as Least Concern under the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The animals are recorded to be vulnerable due to powerlines, barbed wire fences, lack of favorable food, habitat loss, and little red flying fox's diseases, specifically Australian bat lyssavirus, Hendra virus, Menangle virus.

The population also faces threats from its predators like sea eagles, pythons, and other terrestrial and aerial animals, especially Australian species.

Little Red Flying Fox Fun Facts

What do little red flying foxes look like?

The fox little red flying bat is a medium-sized bat that ranges from the reddish-brown, light brown, grayish-brown colored body. The fur over its head is gray in color, while wings and shoulders are observed to be covered with creamish brown fur.

The body of the northern species of flying fox, little red, is reported to have a black coat.

How cute are they?

While the species may or may not appeal to you as one of the cutest species, little red flying fox size is sure to attract you as it is one of the smallest flying bats. A little red flying fox drinking water is a cute sight to catch.

How do they communicate?

The communication mechanism of little red flying foxes remains poorly studied. It is speculated that the red flying fox little uses sight and smell to collect food and feed. It is also recorded that they used scents to mark their territories, especially during the breeding season.

How big is a little red flying fox?

A fox little red flying bat is a medium-sized bat and one of the smallest species of flying foxes. A fox, a little red flying bat is 5-8 in (13-20 cm) long, while the little red flying fox wingspan ranges up to 3 ft (0.9 m).

How fast can a little red flying fox fly?

While the flying speed of the red flying fox (little) remains undeciphered, it is recorded that flying foxes fly up to the speed of 13 mph (21 kph).

How much does a little red flying fox weigh?

Little red flying fox weight ranges from 10.5-21 oz (300-600 g).

What are their male and female names of the species?

There are no sex-specific names assigned to the species of these flying foxes.

What would you call a baby little red flying fox?

A baby little red-haired flying fox bat can be called a pup in general.

What do they eat?

The little red flying fox diet comprises raw fruit, nectar, blossoms, and flowers. More precisely, the food consumed revolves around the floral species of eucalypt trees. The feeding habits of these bats found in Australia also highlight activities such as raiding the orchards to feed themselves.

Are they dangerous?

These flying foxes are said to possess no danger.

Would they make a good pet?

Bats are considered native to their habitats and do not make good pets. A little red flying fox (Australia) is considered a wild animal living near trees. The bats roost near the ground, residing by the eucalypt trees.

Did you know...

Little red flying bats are recorded to hang in a different way, comparing to that of other bats found on the mainland.

Little red flying foxes are reported to temporarily damage the roost trees.

Their diet is reported to exclusively comprise of nectar, unlike other flying foxes. Their tongue is similar to other nectar-feeding birds.

They are nomadic creatures found in areas depending upon the availability of food.

While a little red flying fox is nocturnal in nature, it is recorded to depart from its roost site before dark in the wet rainy season. It is also speculated that flying bats feed at night.

Little red flying foxes are not considered Endangered but are reported to be vulnerable to some extent due to habitat loss, lack of food such as fruit and nectar of flowers, diseases, predators, powerlines, and barbed wire fences.

These bats got their name as little red flying foxes due to their appearance. They are one of the smallest bats of flying foxes and are found in shades of red and brown justifying their name.

When was the little red flying fox discovered?

A little red flying fox was first discovered in 1863, which was recorded at the Cape York Peninsula, Queensland, northern Australia.

What are the predators of a little red flying fox?

Little red flying foxes are considered to have a large community of predators including sea eagles, pythons, common ravens, currawongs, and other terrestrial and aerial animals and birds.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! For more relatable content, check out these ghost bat facts and Mexican free-tailed bat facts pages.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable Little red flying fox coloring pages.