Giant Golden-Crowned Flying Fox

Taxonomy

Eukaryota

Anamalia

Chordata

Mammalia

Chiroptera

Pteropodidae

Acerodon

Closest Related species include cows, pumas, and whales.

Bat ancestors include the Desmodus Draculae, Paleochiropteryx, and Vulcanops Jennyworthyae

A. Jubatus Jubatus

Alive

A. Jubatus Mindanesis

Alive

A. Jubatus Lucifer

Extinct

Male

Males are slightly larger than females

They weigh around 3.1 pounds

The species can be identified by the golden coloration of its head

Female

Wingspan ranges from 4.9-5.6 feet long

13-30 years is the average lifespan in the wild

The coloring is primarily black everywhere else

Climate

Average rainfall of 92 1/2 inches of rainfall per year. The average temperature is 80 degrees, with it varying only around 6 degrees year round.

Animals

This bat has three main predators, which consist of raptors, pythons, and humans. Other animals such as Crocodiles, peacocks, and cobras roam the Philippines along side this bat.

Terrain and plants

Incredibly mountanous interior with vast flat coastlines. Hosting an incredibly unique fana, 100 of the 150 palms are found nowhere else in the world. Gingers, Begonias, Orchids, and Palms are found across the landscape.

Population Location

The Giant Golden-Crowned Flying Fox is native to the Philippines.

Living only in the Philippines, they are native to the Asian continent.

They are not an invasive species, living no where else in the world.

Figs

Primary food source of this largely Frugivorous animal

Leaves

Despite roughly 79% of this bats diet consisting of figs, it also eats foliage from nearby trees

Social Structure

They live primarily in packs, but exhibit differnt behaviors at different times. In the mornings they are more social while they display solitary behaviors in the afternoon. Despite them being pack animals, there is no clear social structure.

Reproduction

Not a lot is known about the reproduction patterns of these bats. They are believed to mate only once a year, having a litter of one. It is known that they are not a monogamous species.

Continued

In a researched population, April and May was when the bats were born, because of the lack of research, not much is known about their mating rituals and other reproductive behaviors,

Development

It is believed that the femals don't reach sexual maturity until they are two years old. The parents take control of the bats until they are able to take care of themselves around when they learn to fly, which takes place around a month old.

Causes of Death

Raptors, Pythons, and People are the primary predators of this species, pushing it to its current IUCN rating of endangered. 10,000-20,000 members of the species are belived to remain, showing a drastic decrease in population compared to the reported packs of 120,000 in the 1920s. Humans have been the primary cause of the loss of this species, due to overhunting and forest loss, impacts will only get worse until real efforts to stop hunting and deforestation begin. Humans have been interacting with this species since both of them have existed, growing side by side in the Philippines.

Conservation Efforts

Bat Conservation International (BCI) has made large pushes to protect this animal. Despite being listed as endangered and the hunting being outlawed, a large amount of hunting occurs illegally.

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