Kang Kao Mae Kai vs Ontong Java Flying Fox

Pteropus vampyrus compared with Pteropus howensis

Key Differences

• Kang Kao Mae Kai is Near Threatened while Ontong Java Flying Fox is Critically Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Kang Kao Mae Kai	Ontong Java Flying Fox
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 vampyrus	Pteropus howensis

Evolutionary Relationship

Kang Kao Mae Kai and Ontong Java Flying Fox share a common ancestor at the Genus level: Pteropus. (Flying Foxes)

Conservation Status

Kang Kao Mae Kai

NT — Near Threatened

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Ontong Java Flying Fox

CR — Critically Endangered

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Kang Kao Mae Kai	Ontong Java Flying Fox
Diet	Herbivore	—
Average Lifespan	15 years	—
Average Length	30 cm	—
Average Weight	1.1 kg	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

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.

Ontong Java Flying Fox

Habitat

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.