Reptile Forum, Reptile Classifieds - CaptiveBred

[Peter Parrot]

The group of four Egyptian fruit bats that I have here have really settled in well. I have noticed however that lately there has been a lot more bickering amongst them. As well as the increased bickering, and there is no other way of saying this, I have noticed that the male bat`s gonads have doubled in size! So the two things together I took to be an indication of them perhaps approaching their breeding season.

About a week ago, I heard a noise coming from their area which I hadn`t heard before and went to have a peep. Sure enough, one pair were "at it". It was a first for me, seeing fruit bats copulating in my hallway and I must say it`s pretty amazing how they manage it whilst hanging upside-down from the ceiling.

The female was hanging in front of the male with her back facing him. He had both wings wrapped around her and was securing himself by gripping her neck with his mouth. After a few seconds worth of performance he ended up releasing his grip from the roost with his feet so that the female was entirely supporting the weight of both of them. Then he got on with the job in hand , and then flew off!

Since then there are bats mating several times a day most days. The colony is going to double next month also as I have another two pairs coming after Christmas which will make the colony up to four pairs. We should be in the new place by then so they will have a lot more space also.
At this rate my ceiling is going to look like this;





Well I decided to do a bit of research into their breeding cycle and found that their breeding season is indeed December through until March, which explains it. Whilst finding that out , I also found some more very interesting information about them, namely, that they are one of the only species of Fruit bat that uses echo location. If anybody is interested, here is the info;

• Common name: Egyptian Fruit Bat

• Scientific or Latin name: Rousettus aegyptiacus

• Scientific Classification:
Class: Mammalia. Order: Chiroptera. Family: Pteropodidae.
Genus: Rousettus. Species: aegyptiacus
• Distinguishing characteristics: Rousettus are among the smallest of the Megachiroptera. They are unique among this suborder of Old World fruit bats, in that they roost primarily in caves rather than in tall trees like bats of the genus Pteropus.
They are unique in that they are the only Megachiroptera that uses echo location. The way that this species does this is in itself worthy of note, in that it is the only form of bat echo location that is audible to the human ear. That is because they do not make the high frequency calls that most bats do in the larynx. Instead, their echo location calls are made by suddenly releasing the tongue upward away from the floor of the mouth. The two edges of the tongue are released asynchronously. In other words, one edge is released with a very slight time delay from the other. In this way double signals are produced. The second signal is produced approximately 30 ms after the first. Each individual signal lasts for a duration of only 1 to 5 ms. These signals produced in the floor of the mouth are intense wide-band signals with frequencies between ten and sixty kHz.

Signals from the lower end of this frequency range are perceived by the human ear as a staccato of harsh cracking sounds. The Bats use their echo location only when orientation by means of vision is not possible, such as on very dark nights or in caves. As long as the light level is adequate, they will emit no signals at all, or only very weak ones. This method of echo location has evolved entirely separately from the more commonly known echo location system found among the rest of the world’s echo locating bats.

• Habitat and natural range: Rousettus aegyptiacus is found in Southern, Western, and Eastern Africa, Egypt, the Middle East, and Cypress, There are three subspecies R. a. aegyptiacus, found in North Africa, Cypress and the Middle East; R. a. Leachi, from Eastern and Soutthern Africa; and R. a. Occidentalis, from Western Africa. However, they only occur where there are suitable caves for roosting and freedom from human disturbance.
This species is unique among bats of the Megachiroptera in choosing to roost in caves instead of forming the familiar ‘camps’ like those of the flying foxes. Some of the more noteworthy roosting caves of this species are found in such remote locations as on Mount Cameroon at elevations of 6400 feet or 2000 meters. In 1810, this species was found roosting in the passages of the pyramids at Giza. Other substantial roosts are found in the Nile Valley as far north as the Mediterranean Sea. Aside from caves, other roost sites chosen by this species include dark ruins, deep cellars, Roman Aqueducts and burial chambers in Egypt. They are known for roosting in very large colonies.

Wherever this species chooses to roost, they do so in large numbers. In fact, mass colonies of this species are among the largest animal groupings in the world. They prefer large caves, and usually roost on flat cave ceilings relatively close to the cave entrance. These Bats have a very unique way of roosting. The bats hang, tightly packed together in very close groups with both sexes and ages mixed together. The larger the colony, the more they crowd together, and the more aggressive and quarrelsome they seem to the human observer. There is a constant din of their squabbling and fighting throughout the day. It would seem to the observer that they never sleep. These bats fight over roosting spots, females and food. They do this with their wings half open, but with their mouths closed. It appears as though they are ‘boxing’ with each other with their wings. This fighting is symbolic, and is accompanied with loud screeching. As a rule, the bats rarely injure each other.

• Natural diet: Although the full extent of the natural diet of this species is unknown, it is known that Rousettus feed upon a huge variety of fruits of tropical shrubs and trees and are known to fly vast distances to find ripe fruit in season particularly ripe figs.
• Reproduction: Female Bats usually give birth to a single young at a time. On rare occasions though, twin births occur. The breeding season of this species is probably between December and March in most areas and is thought to be governed by the food supply of the parents.
• Notes on Captive propagation : Widening of the birth canal is the first visible sign of an impending birth. Unlike most bat species, which hang by the thumbs as well as their feet while giving birth, the mother Rousettus Bat usually hangs in her normal roosting position, but with her wings open slightly. The baby’s head soon becomes visible at the opening of the birth canal.
After a few turning movements, the baby’s head is free of the birth canal, and then tips forward. The head is soon followed by the wings, and then the legs. Labour is apparent throughout the birth. Sometimes, the newborn is suspended entirely by the umbilical cord for a few moments before clinging to the abdomen of the mother, and it is at this time that the newborn instinctively finds its mother’s teat, and immediately attaches itself with its deciduous (baby) teeth.

On average a given birth takes several minutes. In the case of twins, the second baby can be born as much as an hour later. Often shorty after birth, the newborn emits shrill chirping sounds. The afterbirth can emerge as much as an hour after the baby is born. The mother consumes most of it, and as with most mammilian species this encourages lactation.

Most newborn Rousettus Bats on average weigh 0.8 ounces or 22 grams. By comparison, the mother weighs in at about 4 and half ounces or 127 grams. The offspring is protected from disturbance by other bats within the colony by the mother by surrounding it with her wings and completely covering it. Usually the young bat’s head can be seen resting in the bend of the mother’s wrist. Within only a few days after birth, the baby opens its eyes, and begins to take its first steps. These are done without letting go of its mother’s teat. The baby attempts to get a foothold on the roost with its claws, while remaining next to the mother.

At birth the ears are floppy and folded, but by the 12th day they are held up in an adult manner, and the baby responds to sound. The attentive mother Bat grooms her offspring on a frequent basis by licking it. By two weeks of age, the young bat starts to swing from its mother’s abdomen, with its wings spread in practice flight. By the third week of age, the wings are able to be fully extended, and the young begins exploring its immediate surroundings. It regularly chirps to keep its mother informed of its whereabouts. The mother responds in kind, and this duet continues until the mother and offspring are reunited.

• Circumstances affecting Conservation: Due to a loss of habitat from a combination of agricultural development and the effects of political instability the Rousette Fruit Bat, or Dog Bat as well as most of the bats of the genus pteropus are facing increasing threats to their continued existance in nature.

It is important to remember that 70% of all of the World's fruit is pollinated solely by bats.
_________________
YSBRYDOLI POBL, GWELLA LLEOEDD
INSPIRING PEOPLE, IMPROVING PLACES
www.btcv.org
Visit our website - Gwelwch ein Gwefan
www.btcvcymru.org
Llinell Gymorth / Helpline: 08702 40 48 41

[MJ]

Hehehehehehehe I am soo pleased for ya mate! cant wait to tell the shrink about this!
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Paul

For all your Tropical plant and Naturalistic Vivarium needs please enjoy Urban Bromeliad

[Peter Parrot]

One more session should finally push him over the edge mate!

I saw a bit of "behaviour" just now. Two male bats were taking a decided interest in a female. I noticed one of the males hovering around the nether regions of the other male. There was method in his madness though, just as the first male was reaching his most amorous, the second male craftily snuck a little nip on the first male`s gonads! Not suprisingly, the first male withdrew his attentions and the second male took the prize.

Alls fair in love and war I suppose.
_________________
YSBRYDOLI POBL, GWELLA LLEOEDD
INSPIRING PEOPLE, IMPROVING PLACES
www.btcv.org
Visit our website - Gwelwch ein Gwefan
www.btcvcymru.org
Llinell Gymorth / Helpline: 08702 40 48 41

[Scott W]

interesting post Peter, glad they have settled in so well and yep your ceiling will look like that in no time

So they are quite active in the day at the moment?
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Please DO NOT pm orders for reptiles, send email instead scott@captivebred.co.uk

[Peter Parrot]

[lol93]

Good news! Do they make much of a mess/smell?

[Stuart]

sounds like you are doing well with them mate..keep up the good work Batman.
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[GJ]

Very interesting.

Do these things just live around your home all year round.

Also if you don't mind me asking where did you get them from.

Is there any other animals that a commonly kept as pets/captives that you could compare them to I.E. care, behaviour...etc.

Im not after one or anything just fasinated its not like you find them down the local petshop atleast not up my end anyway.

Cheers

[JStroud]

Glad everythings going well mate, look forward to some baby pics!!
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Regards James Stroud

[Peter Parrot]