Grey-headed flying fox
The east coast of Australia, from Rockhampton to Melbourne. Occasionally animals are found on the islands of the Bass Strait but animals are rarely found west of the Great Dividing Range.
Description A rusty brown mantle can be found on the back of the neck. Back fur is dark grey, the head is covered with light grey fur and the belly fur is grey. The fur extends down the legs to the ankle. Other Pteropus species only have fur extending to their knees. Photo: C. Smith.
Habitat Includes rainforests, mangroves, paperbark swamps and cultivated areas. Large camps of up to 200,000 animals form from early to late summer but adults disperse during the winter depending on availability of blossom. Camps are close to water, in vegetation with a dense canopy. Pteropus scapulatus and Pteropus alecto often share these camps. Photo: C. Smith.
Diet and Foraging Pteropus poliocephalus feed upon both blossom, mostly Eucalypt, and fruit, usually native figs. Like Pteropus alecto, Pteropus poliocephalus often chew leaves or fruit swallowing the extracted fluid and spitting out the pulp. Pteropus poliocephalus has a feeding range of 20 to 50 km, flying at a speed of 35 km per hour. Photo: in Birt (1998).
Reproduction Copulation occurs around the month of March followed by a 6 month gestation, with females giving birth during September and October. The pup is carried by the mother for 3 weeks after which she leaves the pup in the camp whilst foraging. At 3 months of age the pup is capable of flight and will follow its mother at night to forage. The pup is then weaned at 5 to 6 months and will reach puberty at 18 months. Photo: C. Smith.
Source: Queensland Department of Primary Industries.
Author: C. de Jong & C. Smith.
Birt, P., Markus, N., Collins, L. & Hall, L. (1998) Nature Australia, Spring, pp. 55-59.
Churchill, S. (1998) Australian Bats, Reed New Holland, Sydney, pp. 84-85.
Richards, G. C. (1983) Grey headed flying fox. In R, Strahan. (ed.). The Mammals of Australia, Reed Books, Chatswood, pp 275-276.
Strahan, R. (1995) A Photographic Guide to Mammals of Australia, New Holland, London, p. 110.