Bulmer's Fruit Bat - Biology and Ecology

Biology and Ecology

• Weight: One adult female Bulmer's fruit bat weighed 600 g (1.3 lb).

• Habitat: Bulmer's fruit bat is a cave-dweller that occurs in mid-montane forests. It has been found living in a cave at 2300 m (7500'). Its altitudinal range is at least 1800 - 2400 m (5800 - 7900'). Given its montane distribution, this large bat seems well adapted to cool environmental temperatures. (Bonaccorso 1998, Flannery 1995)

• Range: Bulmer's fruit occurs in the Maoke Range Alpine Heathlands Global 200 Ecoregion (Olson & Dinerstein 1998, Olson & Dinerstein 1999).

• Age to Maturity: Bulmer's fruit bat is not sexually active by the beginning of its second year and probably does not breed until its third year (Flannery 1995).

• Birth Season: Births occur in April.

• Early Development: A newborn Bulmer's fruit bat is carried for the first few weeks of its life by its mother while she forages.

• Diet: Based on dental structures and its close relationship to other fruit-eating bats, Bulmer's fruit bat is probably an obligate frugivore (Bonaccorso 1998). Its diet includes figs.

• Behavior: Bulmer's fruit bat roosts in caves. The surviving bats at Luplupwintem Cave are extremely cautious. If undisturbed, they leave the cave at dusk; in the presence of people, they leave after dark. All of the bats return to the roost at around 6:00 am, before light (Flannery 1995).

• Social Organization: Bulmer's fruit bat occurs in cave-dwelling colonies.