The order Chiroptera, commonly known as bats, represents the only group of mammals capable of sustained flight, a trait that has allowed them to colonize nearly every part of the globe. With over 1,400 distinct species identified worldwide, bats exhibit a remarkable biological diversity, second only to rodents among all mammalian orders. This expansive group includes species that are insectivores, nectar-feeders, and fruit-eaters. These ecological differences are reflected in their physical size, creating one of the most dramatic size ranges found in the mammalian class.
The Record Holder
The title for the world’s largest bat, based on wingspan, belongs to the Giant Golden-crowned Flying Fox (Acerodon jubatus). This species is a megabat, a classification used for large, typically fruit-eating bats that rely on sight and smell rather than echolocation. The largest documented specimens possess a wingspan that can reach up to 1.7 meters (5 feet 7 inches), comparable to the height of an average adult human. Despite this impressive wingspan, the body mass remains relatively modest, typically weighing up to 1.4 kilograms (about 3.1 pounds). This proportion is necessary for efficient flight. The species is found exclusively in the tropical forests of the Philippines.
Life of the Giant Flying Fox
The Giant Golden-crowned Flying Fox primarily eats fruit, with a particular dependence on figs (Ficus). They also consume plant leaves to supplement the protein often lacking in a purely fruit diet. Traveling long distances, sometimes over 12 kilometers in a night, these bats play a significant role in the tropical forest ecosystem. By consuming fruit and excreting seeds elsewhere, they act as effective seed dispersers, facilitating forest regeneration.
They are highly social, roosting in large colonies that can contain thousands of individuals high in the trees. The species is classified as Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). This designation is due to ongoing threats of habitat loss from deforestation and poaching. Despite being legally protected in the Philippines, the population has continued to decline.
Range of Sizes in Bats
The smallest mammal in the world is the Kitti’s Hog-nosed Bat (Craseonycteris thonglongyai), also known as the Bumblebee Bat, found in Thailand and Myanmar. While the Giant Golden-crowned Flying Fox stretches over five feet, the Bumblebee Bat has a head and body length of only 29 to 33 millimeters (about 1.1 to 1.3 inches). Its wingspan measures approximately 130 to 145 millimeters (5.1 to 5.7 inches), making it smaller than many large butterflies. The body weight of this minuscule creature is just 1.7 to 2 grams, which is less than the weight of a standard dime. This incredible difference means the largest bat is over 100 times heavier than the smallest, illustrating the vast evolutionary scale within the order Chiroptera.