Malaysia Bats — Big Bat Malaysia page: flying foxes and large fruit bats in the region, habitats, roosting behavior, and observation basics.
This page summarizes commonly searched information and explains terms used in news posts and encyclopedias about large fruit bats.
When reading size claims, focus on wingspan and forearm length. Standing height is not a standard bat measurement and is often misrepresented in viral images.
Big bats are often called megabats or flying foxes. They are Old World fruit bats that rely on strong eyesight and smell to find fruit and flowers at night.
The term “big bat” commonly appears in searches about the largest bat species, especially flying foxes in the genus Pteropus and the giant golden-crowned flying fox (Acerodon jubatus) from the Philippines.
Many viral posts describe a “human-sized bat”, but the largest species are measured by wingspan, not standing height. Perspective and camera distance can make an animal look much larger than it is.