By Sheetal Kumari| August 14, 2025
A Japanese megabat, this drowsy animal quite commonly appears as though it is yawning in flight!
Image: Canva
A Japanese megabat, this drowsy animal quite commonly appears as though it is yawning in flight!
Image: @LewisStuff/X
As the name suggests, it’s a fox-faced bat but actually belongs to the family of megabats.
Image: Canva
Its wings are as much as 1.2 metres across, carrying it silently through Japan’s forest ceilings.
Image: Canva
It eats fruits, nectar, and flowers, aiding in pollination and seed dispersal.
Image: Canva
Usually caught in the act of yawning, chances are it’s merely stretching its jaws — but it makes for cute photos!
Image: Canva
A night-flying animal, the Ryukyu flying fox sleeps by day and feeds at night.
Image: Canva
Habitat destruction, deforestation, and hunting threaten this species. Conservation works are in progress.
Image: Canva
The bat is protected in Japan by law, particularly in regions such as Okinawa and Iriomote.
Image: Canva
Quiet, elegant, and strangely expressive — the Ryukyu flying fox is one of Japan’s most intriguing nocturnal creatures.
Image: Canva