Grey-headed Flying Fox - Physical Characteristics

Physical Characteristics

The grey-headed flying fox is the largest bat in Australia. It is tailless with claws on its first and second digits. Since it does not echolocate, it lacks tragus or leaf-ornamentation found in most species of Microchiroptera. It relies on sight to locate its food (nectar, pollen and native fruits) and thus has large eyes. The flying fox has a dark-grey body with a light-grey head and a reddish-brown neck collar of fur. It is unique among bats of the genus Pteropus in that fur on the legs extends all the way to the ankle. Adult grey-headed flying foxes have an average wingspan of up to 1 m (3.3 ft) and can weigh up to 1 kg (2.2 lb). The head and body length is between 230 and 289 mm (9.1 and 11.4 in), with an average of 253 mm (10.0 in). The forearm length is between 138 and 180 mm (5.4 and 7.1 in), with an average of 161 mm. Weight generally varies between 600 and 1,000 g (1.3 and 2.2 lb), with an average of 677 g (1.49 lb).