Black flying fox vs Kang Kao Mae Kai

Pteropus alecto compared with Pteropus vampyrus

Key Differences

  • Black flying fox is Least Concern while Kang Kao Mae Kai is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank Black flying fox Kang Kao Mae Kai
Kingdom same Animalia (สัตว์) Animalia (สัตว์)
Phylum same Chordata (สัตว์มีแกนสันหลัง) Chordata (สัตว์มีแกนสันหลัง)
Class same Mammalia (สัตว์เลี้ยงลูกด้วยน้ำนม) Mammalia (สัตว์เลี้ยงลูกด้วยน้ำนม)
Order same Chiroptera (ค้างคาว) Chiroptera (ค้างคาว)
Family same Pteropodidae (Fruit Bats) Pteropodidae (Fruit Bats)
Genus same Pteropus (Flying Foxes) Pteropus (Flying Foxes)
Species Pteropus alecto Pteropus vampyrus

Evolutionary Relationship

Black flying fox and Kang Kao Mae Kai share a common ancestor at the Genus level: Pteropus. (Flying Foxes)

Conservation Status

Black flying fox

LC — Least Concern

Kang Kao Mae Kai

NT — Near Threatened

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Physical Characteristics

Attribute Black flying fox Kang Kao Mae Kai
Diet Herbivore
Average Lifespan 15 years
Average Length 30 cm
Average Weight 1.1 kg

Habitat & Geographic Range

Black flying fox

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Kang Kao Mae Kai

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.

Black flying fox

The Black flying fox (Pteropus alecto) is a species in the genus Pteropus. It is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Kang Kao Mae Kai

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.

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