Fauna
Mammal

Lyle's Flying-fox

Pteropus lylei

Lyle's Flying-fox is a large Southeast Asian fruit bat with a long muzzle, dark wings, and a contrasting golden-brown mantle. Large colonies rest in exposed tree canopies and disperse after sunset to pollinate flowers and carry seeds between feeding trees.

Large Fruit BatCanopy RoostThreatened Pollinator
Lyle's Flying-fox reference1 / 3
Malene Thyssen (User Malene) / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
—observations
—countries
—peak records
VulnerableConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXVulnerableRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyFruits, nectar, pollen, and flowers
Predators
  • Large raptors
  • Pythons
  • Humans
ThreatsHunting, crop persecution, roost-tree loss, disturbance, electrocution, and habitat conversion
HabitatsLowland forest, mangroves, orchards, farmland, urban trees, and temple groves
Life spanLikely 15 to 25 years; wild longevity data remain limited
Classification
  1. OrderChiroptera
  2. FamilyPteropodidae
  3. GenusPteropus
  4. SpeciesPteropus lylei
Range & activity
Native
Safe observation
Interaction riskModerate
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is moderate
Never handle bats; bites and scratches require prompt medical advice.
Why it is dangerous
Bats can carry zoonotic pathogens and may deliver a serious defensive bite or scratch.
How to recognize a risky encounter
A large flying fox with a long canine-like muzzle, dark wings, and golden-brown neck fur.
What to do
Do not touch any bat; keep others away and contact trained wildlife personnel for assistance.
What to notice
Confirm a large long-muzzled flying fox with dark wings and a contrasting golden-brown mantle.
Support conservation
Observe established roosts only from a substantial distance and never publicize precise colony locations.
Responsible observation
  • Emergence: View evening departures from far outside the roost canopy.
  • Disturbance: Avoid lights, noise, drones, and activity beneath colony trees.
Related species

Related species have not been added yet.

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Moonlight Marvels

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