Wildlifeof Thailand
Island Flying Fox
Pteropodidae
Photo: Ian Dugdale (iNaturalist) · CC BY 4.0 (May be cropped or resized)
Pteropus hypomelanus
Basic stats
Diet
Fruit, flowers, nectar and pollen
Habitat
Coastal forest, mangroves and small islands
Range
Islands and coasts from Southeast Asia through Melanesia
The island flying fox is a medium-sized Pteropus with a fox-like face, large eyes and no tail. Coat colour varies geographically, but commonly combines a dark back and wings with a paler mantle or head. Numerous island subspecies reflect its broad distribution across Southeast Asian and western Pacific coasts (Mammal Diversity Database; specialist flying-fox taxonomy).
It roosts in trees on small islands, mangroves and coastal forest, commuting after dusk to feed on fruit, flowers, nectar and pollen. Visits to durian flowers can increase fruit production, demonstrating a direct pollination role. Roost disturbance, hunting and forest loss affect colonies differently across its fragmented range (species-level pollination study; Mammal Diversity Database). It is Nationally Vulnerable (Thailand Red Data 2025).
Quick answers
- What does the Island Flying Fox eat?
- Fruit, flowers, nectar and pollen
- What habitat does the Island Flying Fox live in?
- Coastal forest, mangroves and small islands
- Where is the Island Flying Fox found?
- Islands and coasts from Southeast Asia through Melanesia