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Text and photos by Nick Baker, unless credited to others.
Copyright © Ecology Asia 2025

 
     
 

 

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

   
   
 
Lyle's Flying Fox 
-  Pteropus lylei
   
   

Fig 1


Fig 2


Fig 3


Fig 4


 

Order : CHIROPTERA
Family : Pteropodidae
Species : Pteropus lylei

Forearm Length : up to 16 cm
Weight : up to 480 gms

Pteropus lylei (Lyle's Flying Fox) is a species of limited distribution, which roosts by day in large colonies in protected areas of villages, towns and cities, such as the leafy compounds of Buddhist temples and other buildings where they can be free of persecution.

At sunset they radiate out into rural areas to feed on fruits and, as a consequence, they may be killed by farmers and landowners when they raid fruit orchards.

The species can be distinguished from other flying foxes on the basis of size and fur colour. The wing membranes are dark brown and the lower back has short, brownish-grey fur. Fur on the upper back, chest and throat is orange and fluffy. The head is dark brown, and fur on the underside is generally darker, sometimes black.

Lyle's Flying Fox occurs in the central plains of Thailand, including towns around the capital Bangkok, and parts of Vietnam and Cambodia.


Fig 1 : A Lyle's Flying Fox rests by day in the shade of a tree in the compound of a Buddhist temple.

Fig 2 : Flying foxes have intelligent, dog-like faces with forward-facing eyes.

Fig 3 : This bat is scratching its head with its thumb. Note the characteristic sharp demarcation between the orange fur of the upper back, and the brownish-grey fur of the lower back.

Fig 4 : Example from Siem Reap, Cambodia.


References :

Francis, C.M. 2019. A Field Guide to the Mammals of South-east Asia. Second Edition.  New Holland. 416 pp.