Indian flying fox Indian flying fox The Indian flying fox ("Pteropus giganteus"), also known as the greater Indian fruit bat, is a species of flying fox found in South Asia. It is one of the largest bats in the world. It is of interest as a disease vector, as it is capable of transmitting several viruses to humans. It is nocturnal and feeds mainly on ripe fruits, such as mangoes and bananas, and nectar. This species is often regarded as vermin due to its destructive tendencies towards fruit farms, but the benefits of its pollination and seed propagation often outweigh the impacts of
Ryukyu flying fox name ""dasymallus"" is likely ; Temminck described its fur as long and woolly. The five subspecies are: The subspecies are based on populations that occur on different islands. The Ryukyu flying fox is slightly smaller than the Indian flying fox, with a wingspan of . It weighs . Its forearm is approximately long. The body of the bat is covered in long hairs, making the body seem almost woolly. The bat is reddish brown and has a yellowish white nape. Its ears are small and pointed, and are difficult to see beneath its thick fur. Its flight membranes are dark