Pteropus

Pteropus, a genus of megabats, includes the large fruit bats commonly known as flying foxes. Found in South Asia, Southeast Asia, Australia, East Africa, and various oceanic islands, there are at least 60 species. These bats primarily consume fruit and plant matter, and sometimes insects, using their keen sense of smell to locate food. Most are nocturnal and navigate using their eyesight, as they cannot echolocate. They have long life spans and typically produce one offspring per year, making their populations vulnerable to threats like overhunting and habitat loss. Six species have gone extinct due to overhunting. Despite being persecuted for crop damage, flying foxes play a crucial ecological role in seed dispersal and pollination.

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