Spectacled Flying-fox - Pteropus conspicillatus
photographed at Thylogale Nature Refuge
by David & Diane Armbrust

The Spectacled Flying-fox is unique among the Australian mainland flying-foxes as being the only rainforest specialist. They are blossom and fruit eating bats responsible not only for the pollination of many rainforest species but for the dispersal of their seeds as well. They are often referred to as Fruit Bats.

Amazingly the Spectacled Flying-fox has the greatest tolerance to ranges of ambient temperature of any mammal. Changes in temperature from freezing to 40c causes almost no change in metabolic rate. Note the wings in the photo above wrapped around the body like a cloak. They form huge colonies numbering in the thousands.

Unfortunately they are often considered a pest species by ill informed fruit farmers. 

Size: Head and Body Length: 220 - 240mm. 
        Weight: Males 580 - 850 grams. 
                    Females: 500 - 650 grams