Tickets
Area of zoo
Rainforest Life
Enclosure status
Open
Population in the wild
20,000
IUCN status
Endangered
Scientific name
Pteropus rodricensis
Order
Chiroptera
Type
Mammals
Family
Pteropodidae
Region
Mauritius, Rodrgiues island
Habitat
Forest

Rodrigues fruit bat facts

  • Fruit bats are also known as 'flying foxes' because of their long, dog-like faces. They are not related though - they are 100% bat.
  • They molt once a year.
  • The Rodrigues Fruit Bat has 34 teeth.
Rodrigues fruit bat Rainforest Life at London Zoo eating fruit upside down
Rodrigues Fruit Bat hanging upside down eating sweetcorn at London Zoo

What do Rodrigues fruit bats eat?

Fruit (of course) but also flowers pollen and nectar. They feed at night, using their big eyes and super sense of smell to find food.

Rodrigues fruit bat habitat 

Rodrigues Fruit Bats are found forested areas, and can also be seen roosting in remaining patches of both primary and secondary forest.

Want to experience Rainforest Life?

A place in London like no other, with trees filled with monkeys, snoozing sloths and bats flying overhead! Be transported to the Amazon rainforest and find out why it's one our most popular spots!

Rainforest Life at London Zoo

Where do Rodrigues fruit bats live?

 In the wild these animals are only found on Rodrigues, a tiny island (about 70 times the size of Regent's Park) in the middle of the ocean.

Rodrigues fruit bat threats

The devastation of their forest by humans and by cyclones had taken them a hair's breadth from extinction.

Animals in Rainforest Life

  • Round-eared sengi
    Macroscelides proboscideus

    Sengi

    Although sengis look like rodents, they are actually more closely related to elephants!

  • Red titi monkey at Rainforest Life London Zoo
    Callicebus cupreu

    Red titi monkey

    These monkeys mate for life and the male is the main childcare provider, carrying the infant on their back.

  • Tamandua at Rainforest Life London Zoo
    Tamandua tetradactyla

    Tamandua

    Tamanduas are a small species of anteater, which have massive tongues growing up to 40cm in length.

  • Red-faced spider monkey at London zoo
    Ateles paniscus paniscus

    Red-faced spider monkey

    Spider monkeys have a patch of skin on their tail, almost like a palm, which helps them to grip like it's a fifth hand.

  • Marilyn the sloth at London Zoo
    Choloepus didactylus

    Linne's two-toed sloth

    A sloths’ internal organs, such as the heart, spleen, and liver are all arranged to accommodate living upside-down. 

  • Rainforest Life