Grey-headed Flying Fox

The grey-headed flying fox (Pteropus poliocephalus) is a megabat native to Australia. The genus Pteropus currently has over 60 recognised species, which include the largest bats in the world.

Pteropus is primarily an island taxon, with 55 species having some or all of their distribution on islands. Only nine species are found in continental areas (five in Asia and four in Australia), and three (Lyle's flying fox Pteropus lylei, little red flying fox Pteropus scapulatus and the grey-headed flying fox) are restricted to continents. The grey-headed flying fox is very long-lived for a mammal of its size. There are reports of individuals surviving in captivity for up to 22 years, and a maximum age of up to 15 years seems possible in the wild.

Read more about Grey-headed Flying Fox:  Physical Characteristics, Ecology, Conservation, Gallery

Famous quotes containing the words flying and/or fox:

    Bonnie Lee: Oh, it’s the most wonderful thing I’ve ever seen.
    Geoff Carter [sarcastically]: Yes, it reminded you of a great big, beautiful bird, didn’t it?
    Bonnie: No, it didn’t at all. That’s why it’s so wonderful. It’s really a flying human being.
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    Jules Furthman (1888–1960)

    That those tribes [the Sac and Fox Indians] cannot exist surrounded by our settlements and in continual contact with our citizens is certain. They have neither the intelligence, the industry, the moral habits, nor the desire of improvement which are essential to any favorable change in their condition.
    Andrew Jackson (1767–1845)