The straw-coloured fruit bat (Eidolon helvum) is a large fruit bat and the most widely distributed of all the African megabats, quite common from the southwestern Arabian Peninsula across the forest and savanna zones of sub-Saharan Africa. It is listed as near threatened on the IUCN Red List because its population is decreasing. It travels in colonies of at least 100,000 bats, and from October to the end of December up to 10 million congregate in Kasanka National Park in Zambia, roosting in a two-hectare area of Mushitu forest in what is the largest migration of mammals on the planet, a gathering only discovered in 1980. It is named for the silky straw colour of its fur and weighs 230 to 340 grams.
Facts
Classification
Population Trend System (Realm) ThreatsBiological Resource Use 2 Relationship to People Relationship to PeopleAgricultural or Structural Pest 3 Living or Extinct Conservation Status Activity Pattern Comparison
CITES Appendix Connections
Child Taxon Of
Source Straw-coloured fruit bat (Wikipedia)
In Biome
Source Straw-coloured fruit bat (Wikipedia)
In the Other Atlases
Found In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Source Straw-coloured fruit bat (Wikipedia)Distribution, EthiopiaQuote, Distribution, Ethiopia
This species is distributed mainly in Africa from Senegal to Ethiopia, down to South Africa, mostly among the sub-Saharan climates, in many forest and savanna zones, and around the southwestern Arabian peninsula.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Source Straw-coloured fruit bat (Wikipedia)Distribution, SenegalQuote, Distribution, Senegal
This species is distributed mainly in Africa from Senegal to Ethiopia, down to South Africa, mostly among the sub-Saharan climates, in many forest and savanna zones, and around the southwestern Arabian peninsula.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Source Straw-coloured fruit bat (Wikipedia)Distribution, South AfricaQuote, Distribution, South Africa
This species is distributed mainly in Africa from Senegal to Ethiopia, down to South Africa, mostly among the sub-Saharan climates, in many forest and savanna zones, and around the southwestern Arabian peninsula.
Sources
1. EltonTraits 1.0 (Wilman et al. 2014): EltonTraits 1.0 mammal foraging attributes (MamFuncDat)
EltonTraits 1.0 (Wilman et al. 2014)MamFuncDat.txt, row Eidolon helvum (Diet-Fruit, Diet-Nect, Diet-Inv, Diet-PlantO columns)Quote, MamFuncDat.txt, row Eidolon helvum (Diet-Fruit, Diet-Nect, Diet-Inv, Diet-PlantO columns)
3703 Eidolon helvum Pteropodidae 0 0 0 0 0 0 100 0 0 0 Ref_1 ABC Ar A 1 1 1 Ref_1 ABC 253.31 Ref_117 1
2. Straw-coloured fruit bat (Wikipedia)
Distribution, South Africa
This species is distributed mainly in Africa from Senegal to Ethiopia, down to South Africa, mostly among the sub-Saharan climates, in many forest and savanna zones, and around the southwestern Arabian peninsula.
Distribution, Ethiopia
This species is distributed mainly in Africa from Senegal to Ethiopia, down to South Africa, mostly among the sub-Saharan climates, in many forest and savanna zones, and around the southwestern Arabian peninsula.
Distribution, Senegal
This species is distributed mainly in Africa from Senegal to Ethiopia, down to South Africa, mostly among the sub-Saharan climates, in many forest and savanna zones, and around the southwestern Arabian peninsula.
Relationship to people, hunting
The straw-coloured fruit bat is hunted as bushmeat in West and Central Africa.
Article text, population
It is listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List due to a decreasing population trend.
Article text, threats
The straw-coloured fruit bat is hunted as bushmeat in West and Central Africa.
Article text, habitat
From October to end of December every year, in the largest migration of mammals on the planet, up to 10 million straw-coloured fruit bats congregate in Kasanka National Park, Zambia, roosting in a 2 hectares (4.9 acres) area of Mushitu forest each day.
Child Taxon Of: Pteropodidae, Lead
The straw-coloured fruit bat (Eidolon helvum) is a large fruit bat that is the most widely distributed of all the African megabats.
In Group: Bats (Chiroptera), Lead
The straw-coloured fruit bat (Eidolon helvum) is a large fruit bat that is the most widely distributed of all the African megabats.
In Biome: Savanna, Habitat, savanna
It is quite common throughout its area ranging from the southwestern Arabian Peninsula, across forest and savanna zones of sub-Saharan Africa.
View the Source3. Animal Diversity Web (University of Michigan Museum of Zoology): Animal Diversity Web: Eidolon helvum
Animal Diversity Web (University of Michigan Museum of Zoology)Conservation Status
CITES No special status
Behavior
Key Behaviors flies nocturnal nocturnal motile motile migratory migratory sedentary sedentary social social colonial colonial Home Range These bats typically forage over distances of about 30km.
Economic Importance for Humans: Negative
Negative Impacts crop pest
View the Source 4. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF): GBIF species 2432851: species profile of Eidolon helvum
Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)speciesProfilesQuote, speciesProfiles
"extinct": false
5. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF): GBIF species 2432851: IUCN Red List category of Eidolon helvum
Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)iucnRedListCategoryQuote, iucnRedListCategory
"category": "NEAR_THREATENED"
6. AnAge (Human Ageing Genomic Resources): AnAge entry for Eidolon helvum
AnAge (Human Ageing Genomic Resources)Lifespan, ageing, and relevant traits: Maximum longevityQuote, Lifespan, ageing, and relevant traits: Maximum longevity
Maximum longevity 21.8 years (captivity)
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