Distribution: The Black flying-fox is found along the east, north and west coast of Australia. Their range stretches from Sydney in the south-east, all the way north to Cape York, across the top end then as south-west as Carnarvon in Western Australia.
Appearance: Black flying-foxes are mostly black, though some individuals have a dark red-brown patch on the back of the head and neck, or the belly furs are white-tipped. Unlike the Grey-headed flying-fox, the fur on their body generally only reaches to the knee. This species does display some colour variation and has been known to hybridise with the Grey-headed flying-fox, which can make identification difficult.
Morphometrics: Black flying-foxes weigh 500-950g, and their head and body is 180-280mm in length.
Image: black flying-fox. Credit: A. Mercer
How you can help
- Download the CAUL Urban Wildlife app. Available on Google Play or Apple Store
- Complete a quick online training session.
- Start recording flying foxes in your area. You can record individual sightings, or undertake a two part timed search - 5 minutes of listening followed by 15 minutes of looking. The timed searches will give us important information on both the presence and absence of our target frog species.
Species profiles
- Grey-headed flying-fox
- Black flying-fox
- Little red flying-fox
- Spectacled flying-fox
- Foraging species list