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Rodrigues fruit bat (Pteropus rodricensis)

Mary Schwalm Fruit Bat naps in the Central Park Zoo.

Where found : Rodrigues Island, off the coast of Madagascar. These flying foxes are threatened primarily by tsunamis. The five females at the Central Park Zoo may usually be seen suspended from the rafters just inside the entrance. So look up!
Diet : Fruit, seeds, and flowers.
Description : Comparatively short, broad wings allow them to fly in the dense forests. These bats will also be seen climbing trees using their claws or sometimes sliding down the rafters at play. They have large eyes, which allow them to see well at night- but don’t be fooled by the myth. These bats see in full color! Considered a flying fox, these large bats may have a wingspan up to 3 feet and have brownish-gold fur.

Short-tailed fruit bat (Carollia perspicillata) AKA Leaf-nosed fruit bat
Where found : Southern Mexico to Paraguay and southern Brazil, Trinidad, Tobago, and Grenada in the Lesser Antilles. At the Central Park Zoo, this exhibit is located just after the Leafcutter ants. The lighting has been adjusted so it is night in the exhibit and the bats are more active. This does, however, make them harder to see- but please no use of flash photography. Bats are not blind and the lights will hurt their eyes.
Diet : At the CPZ, the Leaf-nosed fruit bats are fed diced bananas, apples, canned primate and feline diet, and fortified bat mix twice daily.
Description : Approximately 2 inches long with brown fur. Their ears are relatively simple, rigid, and usually erect. If you can get a good glimpse you might notice the leaf shape on the nose of the bats. This helps to focus and direct sounds when using echolocation.

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