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Bats roosting in my porch: 9. Mating

on 25th August 2014

It was on the evening of 2nd August 2014 that the mating of the Common Fruit Bat (Cynopterus brachyotis) was documented. At around1800 hours there was a lone bat roosting in the porch (above). This was unusually early as they normally start to arrive half to an hour later. By 2040 hours there was a small colony of 13 bats. Most of the bats were either actively grooming themselves or simply hanging quietly.

Usually there would be one bat with its wings extended nearly all the time. This time it was no exception. It was turning round and occasionally flapping its wings.

This particular bat was distinctly a male. After some time hanging by its claws, it crawled to a nearby resting female. He suddenly made a frontal garb at the female (above).

They struggled somewhat and the female appeared to be biting his upper jaw (above).

He moved behind her (above) and for some seconds they were in a tight embrace (below).

Then they disengaged and the male moved away with his red penis somewhat retracted and the tip with a distinct white blob (below).

To quote Dr Leong Tzi Ming: “I believe the white ‘tip’ must be the remnant of the seminal fluid ejaculated. Looks like the female was successfully impregnated!”

The video clip below shows the mating process, after which the male goes unsuccessfully after more females.

YC Wee & Dr Leong Tzi Ming
Singapore
August 2014

If you like this post please tap on the Like button at the left bottom of page. Any views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the authors/contributors, and are not endorsed by the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM, NUS) or its affiliated institutions. Readers are encouraged to use their discretion before making any decisions or judgements based on the information presented.

YC Wee

Dr Wee played a significant role as a green advocate in Singapore through his extensive involvement in various organizations and committees: as Secretary and Chairman for the Malayan Nature Society (Singapore Branch), and with the Nature Society (Singapore) as founding President (1978-1995). He has also served in the Nature Reserve Board (1987-1989), Nature Reserves Committee (1990-1996), National Council on the Environment/Singapore Environment Council (1992-1996), Work-Group on Nature Conservation (1992) and Inter-Varsity Council on the Environment (1995-1997). He is Patron of the Singapore Gardening Society and was appointed Honorary Museum Associate of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM) in 2012. In 2005, Dr Wee started the Bird Ecology Study Group. With more than 6,000 entries, the website has become a valuable resource consulted by students, birdwatchers and researchers locally and internationally. The views and opinions expressed in this article are his own, and do not represent those of LKCNHM, the National University of Singapore or its affiliated institutions.

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