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Nature

Flying Fox

What is flying fox?

· James MacDonald

Key facts

Genus *Pteropus*[2]
Family Pteropodidae[2]
Number of species about 65[2]
Region tropical islands from Madagascar to Australia and Indonesia and mainland Asia[2]
Diet fruit[2]
Common names fruit bat, megabat[1]

A flying fox is a large bat, specifically a fruit bat of the genus *Pteropus* in the family Pteropodidae, known for its size and fruit-based diet [2]. These are the largest bats, found on tropical islands from Madagascar to Australia and mainland Asia [2]. A notable example is the golden-crowned flying fox.

Context

The flying fox is a large bat belonging to the genus *Pteropus* in the family Pteropodidae, with about 65 species distributed across tropical islands from Madagascar to Australia and mainland Asia [2]. These bats are the largest of all bats, primarily nocturnal, and roost in large numbers [2]. Their diet consists mainly of fruit, and they serve as important pollinators and seed dispersers in their ecosystems [2][3]. The term 'flying fox' is also used more broadly for other fruit bats, and in some contexts it can refer to a cable transport device or a fish species [1]. They are commonly known as fruit bats or megabats [1].

Documented claims

  • Flying foxes are the largest bats and are primarily nocturnal, roosting in large numbers. [2]
  • They play an ecological role as pollinators and seed dispersers. [3]
  • The term 'flying fox' can also refer to a cable mechanism, a cyprinid fish, or a chair suspended on a pulley. [1]

Related

Flying FishBoth are animals with 'flying' in their name, but readers may want to compare them.

Questions and answers

Is a flying fox a bat or a fox?

A flying fox is a bat, not a fox. It is a large fruit bat of the genus *Pteropus* in the family Pteropodidae [2].

Are flying foxes harmless?

Flying foxes are generally harmless to humans, as they are fruit-eating bats that act as pollinators and seed dispersers [3]. They are not aggressive and primarily feed on fruit [2].

Are flying foxes squirrels?

No, flying foxes are not squirrels. They are bats, specifically large fruit bats in the genus *Pteropus* [2].

Which animal is known as the flying fox?

The animal known as the flying fox is a large bat, typically of the genus *Pteropus*, found in tropical regions from Madagascar to Australia and Asia [2].

Sources

  1. Meaning of flying fox in English - Cambridge Dictionary — dictionary.cambridge.org (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  2. FLYING FOX definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary — collinsdictionary.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  3. Flying foxes: These extraordinary tropical flying mammals ... — discoverwildlife.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)

Sources last checked August 3, 2026. · More in Nature