### Identification This medium-sized "fox with wings" sports a forearm length of 110–125 mm, making it significantly more compact than the gargantuan Great Flying Fox (*P. neohibernicus*). Its most striking field mark is a luscious, cream-to-golden "mantle" or shawl of fur across the shoulders that contrasts sharply against a dark chocolate-brown or blackish body. Look for its classic vulpine (fox-like) face, large intelligent eyes, and lack of a tail. Unlike some related species, its ears are relatively short and rounded, often partially tucked into its thick fur.
### Habitat & Range True to its name, this species is a specialist of the Admiralty Islands, though its reach extends across the Bismarck Archipelago and the Solomon Islands. It is a creature of the lowlands, favoring coastal tropical forests, dense mangroves, and even traditional coconut plantations. You won’t find them in the high-elevation interior mountains; they prefer the humid, fruit-rich fringes of the Pacific islands.
### Behaviour By day, these bats congregate in noisy "camps" high in the forest canopy, hanging like oversized, leathery fruit. They are boisterous and social; a quiet colony is a rare thing, as individuals constantly squabble for the best roosting spots. An observer at dusk will see them stream out in synchronized lines to forage. They rely entirely on sight and smell rather than echolocation, navigating the moonlit canopy with surprising agility.
### Diet The Admiralty Flying Fox is a dedicated nectar-and-fruit lover. They favor wild figs (*Ficus*) and the protein-rich blossoms of forest giants. Rather than swallowing fruit whole, they often chew it into a pulp, lap up the nutrient-rich juice, and spit out the dry "wadge" of fiber, making them the primary "gardeners" of the islands by dispersing seeds across vast distances.
### Fascinating Fact These bats are incredible island-hoppers! They have been known to colonize tiny, remote coral cays barely a few acres in size, often serving as the *only* mammal species present, effectively acting as the sole architects of those islands' plant diversity.