Ruwenzori Long-Haired Fruit Bat
Rousettus lanosus
About the Ruwenzori Long-Haired Fruit Bat
Geographic Range:
Class: Mammalia
Order: Chiroptera
Family: Pteropodidae
Genus: Rousettus
Species: lanosus
Ruwenzori long-haired fruit bats are one of only a few species of fruit bats that echolocate to navigate in low light conditions. They create a series of clicks using the back of their tongue.
With over 1,200 species, bats make up one fifth of the earth’s mammals. They are also among the most endangered of the world's creatures, primarily due to habitat loss and further threatened by a fungal disease devastating many bat colonies in North America. Often considered a “keystone species,” bats play a critical role in the ecosystem in terms of insect control, plant pollination, seed dissemination and fertilization. Their loss would have serious consequences for the ecosystems to which they belong and health ramifications for humans as well. A single little brown bat, the most common bat species in the U.S., can eat up to thousands of insects in one night, providing protection against mosquito-borne illnesses and potential crop pests.
Photo Credit: Robert Michelson
You Can Find This Animal in the Tropical Forest
Picky Eaters
These bats only swallow the pulp and juices of fruit and spit out the other parts.
Recording Bat Calls to Fight Extinction
Through our Biodiversity Project, field conservation staff conduct seasonal surveys to record observations of wildlife outside the Zoo's gates. The team uses EchoMeter Touch bat detectors to collect and analyze bat vocalizations within Franklin Park. Our aim is to observe, record, and use that knowledge to preserve local wildlife.
