Diet
As noted before the bat is a small fruit eating mammal that is found mainly in southern Africa. These bats can be found flying from tree to tree feeding on their primary food source the fig.
The fig is not a very nutritious food source because it is low in protein and high in sugar, but it is abundant, so the bats must cover a large amount of trees to receive the nutrition necessary to sustain flight and feed their young.
But these bats are not limited to eating just figs they have also been known to feed on bananas, mangoes, guavas, and the nectar from the Parka Clappertoniana flowers. They feed on all of the above but the fig is the primary source because it is in bloom longer than the rest. The Epauletted Fruit Bat has been known to spend eight to ten hours flying around from tree to tree eating because they burn more energy flying than the receive from the figs. (Morris)
It is very important that these bats spend so much time getting food because if not then they will not have enough nutrients to give to their young and their babies will not survive. The young do stay in the nest while the parents retrieve the food but instead hang on to its mother's teats in flight. This is only until about five weeks, when the bat begins to learn to fly and sheds its milk teeth. (Fenton)
Read more about this topic: Gambian Epauletted Fruit Bat
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