Thermoregulatory behavior in the small island flying fox, Pteropus hypomelanus (Chiroptera: Pteropodidae)

We investigated the thermal responses and thermoregulatory behavior of five small island flying foxes, Pteropus hypomelanus exposed to ambient temperatures ranging from 13.5 to 38.9°C. Bats tended to increase body temperature during the heat of the day. With increasing ambient and body temperatures, bats increased their exposed wing surface and the frequency of wing-fanning behavior. When ambient temperature approached body temperature, bats exposed less wing area and decreased wing-fanning