Long-tongued flying fox

Long-tongued flying fox

We are delighted that Klaus Schmuck has taken over the sponsorship of the long-tongued flying fox (Megaloglossus woermanni).

"Mega...", meaning large or long, is just the tongue (Greek: Glossa = tongue) of this tropical flying fox species, which is native to the lowland rainforests and forest-savannah mosaics from Guinea in West Africa to Uganda in the east. The average body size of the long-tongued flying fox is just 6-8 cm, and these representatives of the flying mammals weigh less than 20 g. This makes them the smallest flying foxes. This makes them the smallest flying foxes in Africa.

The fact that our sponsored animal is a male can be recognised by the creamy white collar of fur, under which there are glands that give off a musky smell.

Long-tongued flying foxes are typical flower pollinators among African flying foxes: Their diet consists exclusively of nectar and pollen from various plant and tree species in the rainforest. On their nocturnal foraging expeditions, the loners like to fly to the so-called liverwort tree (Kigelia africana), for example - our sponsored exhibit is currently dipping its snout into its prepared blossom. As flower pollinators, the long-tongued flying foxes play an important role in the survival of tree species in the rainforest ecosystem.