Source and Additional Information

Animal Diversity Web
 
Brianne Winter
Some rights reserved

These bats are sedentary and live in colonies. Males form harems or bachelor groups. Some males will also lead solitary lives at the edge of the colony. Although they are sedentary, these bats are strong flyers and are capable of traveling long distances. They have been observed flying between islands in the Marianna Islands, with distances of 3 to 62 miles between islands. These distances are traveled mainly for feeding purposes. On an island, these bats travel 10 to 12 km to reach feeding grounds.

During the day, Marianas flying foxes mostly sleep but will take part in grooming, breeding, scent rubbing, and marking territories. Males defend their roosting territories to maintain breeding rights over females in their harem. Females do not appear to be bound to any particular harem. ("Mariana flying fox", 2005; "Mariana Fruit Bat", 2006)

Home Range

Marianas flying fox home ranges have not been reported.

Communication and Perception

Source and Additional Information

Animal Diversity Web
 
Brianne Winter
Some rights reserved

Chemical scent marking plays a role in establishing territories and grooming plays a role in establishing and maintaining social bonds.

Other species of Pteropus take part in aerial displays, vocalization that varies with the situation, and scent marking. Pteropus species do not echolocate, instead they use their excellent vision in low light and their sense of smell to find food and navigate.