Wildlifeof Nepal
Dawn Bat
Bats
Photo: (c) Utain Pummarin, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC-BY
Eonycteris spelaea
Basic stats
Diet
Nectar, pollen and fruit; at least thirteen plant taxa including banana and jackfruit
Habitat
Caves; roosts of more than 50,000 recorded
Size
Head and body 8.5–11cm; tail 1.5–1.8cm; forearm 6–7cm
The cave nectar bat, or dawn bat, is a megabat. The upper parts are grey-brown to dark brown or black, the underparts are paler, and the neck is sometimes yellowish brown. It has an external tail, unlike many fruit bats. Head and body measure 8.5 to 11cm and the forearm 6 to 7cm (Wikipedia, general species account).
It roosts in caves in large groups, with some roosts exceeding 50,000 animals, and sometimes shares them with other bat species. It feeds on and pollinates at least thirteen kinds of plants, including commercially important crops such as banana and jackfruit, and which plants it uses varies with what grows near the roost. Nationally Data Deficient (Nepal National Red List 2011).
Quick answers
- What does the Dawn Bat eat?
- Nectar, pollen and fruit; at least thirteen plant taxa including banana and jackfruit
- What habitat does the Dawn Bat live in?
- Caves; roosts of more than 50,000 recorded
- How big is the Dawn Bat?
- Head and body 8.5–11cm; tail 1.5–1.8cm; forearm 6–7cm