Old World phytophagous bats (Megachiroptera) and their food plants: a survey

The Megachiroptera, with a single family, 43 genera and 174 species, are confined to the Old World tropics and subtropics where they are exclusively phytophagous, feeding upon floral resources (largely nectar and pollen but also petals and bracts), fruit, leaves and water. A literature survey revealed information on the food sources for only 21 genera of bats, these feeding upon 75 genera of flowers, 145 genera of fruit and 10 genera of leaves in a total of 34 orders, 66 families and 198 genera. The bats are likely to pollinate flowers of at least 31 genera and presumably may disperse the seeds of the majority of fruits consumed. Despite our ignorance about the relationship between Megachiroptera and plants, it appears that most bats are catholic in their choice of food, and most plants are visited by a diversity of bats.