Did you know the biggest bats in the world are bigger than buzzards? Stuart Blackman takes a look at the contenders
This title of biggest bat in the world goes to one of the fruit bats of the genus Pteropus, several of which can weigh in at 1.6kg and boast a 1.7m wingspan (bigger and heavier than a buzzard). But which one is the biggest bat?
Precise measurements are elusive but the giant golden-crowned flying fox, also known as the golden-capped fruit bat, an endangered species endemic to the Philippines, is thought to have a longer wingspan than its rivals based on the length of the wing-bones.
However, being slightly heavier, the great flying fox of New Guinea and the Indian flying fox – both weighing up to 1.6 kg – are also in with a shout.
All are considerably bigger than the smallest bat in the world, the Kitti’s hog-nosed bat from Thailand and Myanmar, which is about 29-33 mm long and weighs a tiny 2g.
The Kitti’s hog-nosed bat is also one of the smallest mammals in the world.
Did you know that as well as birds, bats and insects, the world is full of other flying animals?