Watch Our Animals online: Episode 2 Fruit bats

Sometimes fruit bats are called flying foxes because of their little fox-like faces. There are lots of different flying foxes. Some are so tiny they would fit into your hand. Others can be about as big as a cat. They have five toes with long claws on each foot. The long claws allow them to hang from trees. Their long arms have special skin between their fingers. This skin creates wings that allow bats to fly. Bats are the only mammals that can fly. They live in big groups. These groups are called camps or some people call them colonies. They hang upside down most of the time but they straighten up to wee and poo by hanging by their thumbs. At sunset they fly off to look for food. Food for fruit bats is fruit and flowers. They prefer our native plants, but if there aren't enough of those, they'll eat other flowers and fruit. As they eat they spread the plant's seeds and pollen. This helps to create more healthy plants. Baby fruit bats drink milk from their mother's nipples. The nipples are in mum’s armpits. Mums spend a lot of time teaching their young. Baby bats are about 2 months old when they can fly on their own.

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