The black-bellied fruit bat (Melonycteris melanops ) is a species of order Chiroptera in the family Pteropodidae.
Black-bellied fruit bats can weigh up to 63 grams, average 94.13 mm in length and have a forelimb average measurement of 59.99 mm. They have a unique counter shading pattern of a black underside and burnt orange backs. Research has determined that the black-bellied fruit bat is "strongly indicated as a sister taxon to all megachiropterans" and that they are likely a primitive form of the family Pteropodidae.
Black-bellied bats spend less than 36% of their time flying while actively foraging. By feeding at the source instead of carrying fruit back to their roost they are able to spend less time flying then other fruit bats. Mean flight time of individual flights ranges from 20.8 to 30.7 seconds, with up to 99 flights in 2 hours.
instead of carrying fruit back to their roost they are able to spend less time flying then other fruit bats. Mean flight time of individual flights ranges from 20.8 to 30.7 seconds, with up to 99 flights in 2 hours.
During the day, this flying fox usually roosts among dry banana leaves, a perfect camouflage given its burnt orange and black fur pattern. They roost alone, primarily within 100 m of their core-use feeding area, except for sub-adult bats who roost more than 400 m from their most frequented foraging grounds. Sub-adult bats often have not established a territory yet and have to wait for a home range to become available or fight to claim one.
