What is the Lesser Long-tongued Fruit Bat?
Lesser Long-tongued Fruit Bat refers to Macroglossus minimus, in the genus Macroglossus, family Pteropodidae, and order Chiroptera. The scientific name follows the accepted taxon in the GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Common names can vary between places; the scientific name distinguishes this species from relatives.
What is known about the Lesser Long-tongued Fruit Bat?
The lesser long-tongued fruit bat feeds at flowers and is much smaller than large flying foxes; size alone cannot identify it reliably.
Read that fact alongside the scientific name and species source, not as proof from an unclear photograph. Populations, ages and taxonomic limits can differ; when identification is uncertain, record the broader group.
Evidence: Species account — background reading ↗
Habitat and field observations of the Lesser Long-tongued Fruit Bat
Lesser long-tongued bats use forest, gardens and some disturbed settings. They take nectar and pollen with the tongue and can connect visited flowers through pollination.
Evidence: GBIF species treatments — natural-history accounts ↗
How many Indonesian records name the Lesser Long-tongued Fruit Bat?
When checked on 2026-09-23, the GBIF search returned 65 human-observation records from Indonesia under this species name for 2016–2026. That is a count of indexed records, not an estimate of population, abundance or unique individuals. Observation effort can vary by location, and the count may change as records are added or identifications revised.
Evidence: GBIF occurrence search — Indonesia, human observations, 2016–2026 ↗
Where were observations reported?
Place labels appearing in the results include South East Sulawesi, Kalimantan Timur, Jawa Barat. They are labels attached to records, not a complete range map or evidence that the species occurs only there. Some labels may be broad or inconsistent. Check the underlying records before using the location information for field decisions.
Evidence: GBIF occurrence search — Indonesia, human observations, 2016–2026 ↗
How can you observe the Lesser Long-tongued Fruit Bat?
Watch from a distance, do not feed, and avoid sharing precise locations of vulnerable dens or resting sites. Do not try to catch or touch wild mammals. A well-documented sighting helps others check the identification without turning one encounter into a conservation-status claim.
Explore related animals
To explore this group further, compare Lesser Long-tongued Fruit Bat with Large Flying-fox, Tatar Horseshoe Bat, Diadem Roundleaf Bat. These links reflect a shared genus, family, order, class or catalogue group; taxonomic proximity does not imply identical habitat needs or conservation status.
Explore related habitats
These habitat relationships are supported by species sources in this guide. This is not a complete range map.
Sources & references
- GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — accepted taxon ↗
- GBIF occurrence search — Indonesia, human observations, 2016–2026 ↗
- GBIF species treatments — natural-history accounts ↗
- iNaturalist — exact species taxon and community observations ↗
- Species account — background reading ↗
References can change. Check dates and context in the original source.