Bishop ray vs large flying fox

Aetobatus narinari compared with Pteropus vampyrus

Taxonomic Classification

Rank Bishop ray large flying fox
Kingdom same Animalia (Animals) Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same Chordata (Chordates) Chordata (Chordates)
Class Elasmobranchii Mammalia (Mammals)
Order Myliobatiformes (Myliobatiformes) Chiroptera (Bats)
Family Myliobatidae Pteropodidae (Fruit Bats)
Genus Aetobatus Pteropus (Flying Foxes)
Species Aetobatus narinari Pteropus vampyrus

Evolutionary Relationship

Bishop ray and large flying fox share a common ancestor at the Phylum level: Chordata. (Chordates)

Conservation Status

Bishop ray

NT — Near Threatened

large flying fox

NT — Near Threatened

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Physical Characteristics

Attribute Bishop ray large flying fox
Diet Herbivore
Average Lifespan 15 years
Average Length 30 cm
Average Weight 1.1 kg

Habitat & Geographic Range

Bishop ray

Habitat

Native to Asia and South America, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Distributed across Colombia, Taiwan, and Venezuela. Listed as Near Threatened, this species requires ongoing monitoring to prevent population decline.

large flying fox

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests, and tropical and subtropical grasslands and savannas, among 6 distinct biome types spanning the Australasia and Indomalayan realms. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Distributed across Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, and Thailand. Listed as Near Threatened, this species requires ongoing monitoring to prevent population decline.

Bishop ray

The Bishop ray (Aetobatus narinari) is a species in the genus Aetobatus. It is currently classified as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List. Native to Asia and South America, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

large flying fox

The world's largest bat species, large flying foxes have wingspans reaching 1.5 meters and inhabit tropical forests from Southeast Asia to the Philippines and Indonesia. Despite the alarming name, they feed exclusively on fruit and nectar, making them vital pollinators and seed dispersers for tropical forest trees. Roost in massive colonies of thousands. Listed as Vulnerable due to hunting for bushmeat and habitat destruction.

Nature FYI Family

Explore more of the natural world across our sister sites.

Part of the Nature FYI family — FYIPedia