THE EPAULETTED FRUIT BAT 



All species of Insectivorous Bats are small ; 

 whereas some of the Fruit'Bats are very large. One 

 of them is known as the Kalong or Malay Flying Fox 

 (Pteropus edulis). It inhabits some of the islands of 

 the Malay Archipelago, and is a giant among its 

 kind, for it measures three feet from tip to tip of its 

 outspread wings. It is killed and eaten for food 

 by the Malays. 



THE EPAULETTED FRUIT BAT 



(JEpomopborus wahlbergi) 

 Syn. : E. gambianus 



THIS large bat is common on the eastern side of 

 South Africa from the Cape Province northwards. 

 It is very widespread, for it is found right through 

 Africa as far north as Gambia on the west, to Kilima- 

 njaro on the east. It is an inhabitant of the forests, 

 wooded kloofs, and in fact wherever there are trees 

 in abundance. This Fruit Bat cannot possibly be 

 mistaken for one of the insectivorous kind by reason 

 of its size, for it is a giant in comparison with any 

 of the South African species of insect-eating bats. 

 The bulk of its body is that of a man's closed hand, 

 and the wings, when stretched to their fullest extent, 

 measure on an average twenty inches from tip to tip. 

 The male is slightly larger than the female. The 

 Epauletted Fruit Bat is so called because of a sac or 

 depression on each shoulder, which is marked with a 



83 



