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Rare sighting of endangered megabat in Philippines

Taiwanese Facebook group erupts over photo of giant golden-crowned flying fox

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Spotted: a giant golden-crowned flying fox (Image from David Chan Facebook)

Spotted: a giant golden-crowned flying fox (Image from David Chan Facebook)

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A recent sighting of an enormous, endangered bat is taking the Internet by storm.

A photo of the large bat was posted onto Taiwanese Facebook group "Baofei Society" (爆廢公社公開版) by a user attempting to identify the bat.

One Hong Kong Facebook user identified the mammal as a giant golden-crowned flying fox, the largest species of bat in the world, according to Apple Daily.

Rare sighting of endangered megabat in Philippines
Giant golden-crowned flying fox (Image from Bat World)

The bat can be found in the Philippines and has a wingspan of up to 1.7 meters (5.58 feet). Despite their hulking size, these bats are vegetarian and consume primarily fruit.

The giant golden-crowned flying fox typically dwells deep in forest caves, however, which makes this sighting so spectacular.