Bats in my porch: 14. When is the bat’s head pointing up?

YC Wee
on 13th September 2014

You normally see Common Fruit Bats (Cynopterus brachyotis) hanging down, their feet clinging to some surface or other and the head pointing downwards. This is the normal resting position of bats (above). They have weak feet and are unable of run fast to evade predators. Hanging with their heads down allows them to immediately launch into flight by releasing their hold on whatever they are clinging on to.

There are two occasions when the bats head points upwards. One is when it is crawling up the surface (top). The other is when it is defecating (below). Here, it hangs on the claws of the thumbs with its head upwards and the hind limbs separated.

When in this position, please do not stand below…

YC Wee
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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