Little golden-mantled flying fox on the end of its wings. The little golden-mantled flying fox is native to the Philippines and Miangas (Palmas), the northernmost island in Indonesia. In the Philippines, it is known from Balut, Camiguin, Leyte, Maripipi, Masbate, Mindanao, Mindoro, Negros, Panay, Sibuyan, Siquijor and Tablas. It occurs at altitudes of up to about and is most common on smaller islands. Its habitat is primary forest and well-grown secondary forest. The little golden-mantled flying fox is a solitary species and does not roost in large groups as do many other fruit bats. Instead it makes a nest and roosts in a tree.
Indian flying fox canine is pronounced, and the molars have a longitudinal furrow. As of 1999, it is the longest-lived member of its genus; one individual lived for 31 years and 5 months in captivity. It was described as a new species in 1782 by Danish zoologist Morten Thrane Brünnich, who gave it the scientific name "Vespertilio gigantea." Linnaeus previously classified the species as "Pteropus vampyrus". Its species name ""giganteus"" is of Latin origin, meaning "giant." In 2012, Mlíkovský argued that the correct scientific name of the Indian flying fox should be "Pteropus medius" rather than "P. giganteus". He asserted that Brünnich coined