Giant golden-crowned flying fox

Taxobox
name = Giant Golden-crowned Flying Fox
status = EN
trend = down
status_system = iucn2.3


regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Mammalia
ordo = Chiroptera
familia = Pteropodidae
genus = "Acerodon"
species = "A. jubatus"
binomial = "Acerodon jubatus"
binomial_authority = (Eschscholtz, 1831)

The Giant golden-crowned flying fox ("Acerodon jubatus"), also known as the Golden-capped fruit bat, is a rare fruit bat and the largest known bat in the world. The species is endangered and is currently facing the possibility of extinction due to poachers and food hunters. They can be found only in the Philippines, where they live in the caves and rainforests of Maitum, Sarangani.

This nocturnal flying mammal has a wing span of at least 1.5 m (5 ft) and weighs approximately 1.2 kg (3 lbs). It is active at night and can fly long distances up to 40 kilometers while hunting for food, eating a variety of fruits. Its favorite food is the ripe fig. It is called "silent planter," since it contributes greatly to forest regeneration, because of eating lots of fruits and their seeds. [ [http://www.gmanews.tv/video/25149/-Born-to-be-Wild--Giant-Bats www.gmanews.tv/video, Born to be Wild: Giant Bats, 07/03/2008] ]

The local government of Maitum, Sarangani in the Philippines has organized a campaign to save this rare species from extinction. They were knownweasel-inline to roost by the thousands before their decline due to destruction of habitat and hunting.