Mammal · GBIF taxon 5218645
Rodrigues Flying-fox
Pteropus rodricensisAlso known as Rodrigues Fruit Bat, Golden Bat
Rodrigues flying-foxes navigate the canopy of Rodrigues Island with dense, chestnut-gold fur that covers their heads, shoulders, and necks. These highly social mammals roost in communal canopy colonies during the daytime, chattering and fanning their wings to stay cool. At dusk, they launch into nocturnal flights across tropical forest valleys to forage for wild fruits and flowers, playing a vital ecological role as seed dispersers.
NocturnalFrugivoreIsland Endemic
Licensed referenceVauxford / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
—observations
—countries
—peak records
EndangeredConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXEndangeredRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Figs
- Mangoes
- Flowers
Predators
- Humans
- Feral Cats
ThreatsSevere cyclones, habitat degradation, historical overhunting
HabitatsTropical lowland forest canopy
Life span15–28 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderChiroptera
- FamilyPteropodidae
- GenusPteropus
- SpeciesPteropus rodricensis
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskModerate
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is moderate
- Wild bats will bite defensively if handled; observe roosting colonies quietly from a safe distance.
- Why it is dangerous
- Possesses sharp canine teeth and strong jaws capable of inflicting deep puncture wounds if handled.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Look for dark flight wings paired with vibrant golden-chestnut mantle fur around the head and neck.
- What to do
- Maintain a respectful distance from roost trees and contact wildlife authorities for injured bats.
- What to notice
- Recognizable by bright golden head fur and social daytime roosting clusters in high forest canopies.
- Support conservation
- Keep distance, avoid sudden noise under colonies, and do not disrupt roosting family groups.
Responsible observation
- Observe at Dusk: Position yourself along forest edges near dusk when colonies emerge to feed.
- Keep Quiet: Avoid making loud sounds beneath communal roost trees to prevent triggering mass colony flight.
- Use Binoculars: Scan canopy tops during the daytime to watch roosting behaviors without disturbing bats.
Close Relative (c) Eliane Küpfer, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Eliane Küpfer · cc-by-sa
Image unavailableClose Relative 
Genus Relative (c) Ken-ichi Ueda, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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