
%0 Journal Article
%A Messer, Michael 
%A Parry-Jones, Kerryn 
%T Milk Composition in the Grey-headed Flying-fox, <emph type="2">Pteropus poliocephalus</emph> (Pteropodidae : Chiroptera)
%J Australian Journal of Zoology
%D 1997/04/22
%V 45
%N 1
%P 65-73
%K 
%R https://doi.org/10.1071/ZO96052
%U https://www.publish.csiro.au/paper/ZO96052 
%X Milk samples from 11 captive flying-foxes were collected at various times during lactation from 5 to 139 days post partum and analysed for protein, carbohydrate, total solids and ash. In addition, samples from 14 free-living animals, collected on a single occasion, were analysed. No significant changes in milk composition were observed during lactation in the captive bats except for a small increase in protein and a small decrease in carbohydrate concentration late in lactation. The milk from captive bats contained less protein and total solids than that from free-living animals (mean values: protein, 2&#183;59 and 3&#183;64%, repectively; total solids, 11&#183;1 and 12&#183;7%, repectively) but there was no significant difference with repect to the carbohydrate (6&#183;13 and 6&#183;44%, respectively). The fat content, estimated from the total solids by difference, was low (1&#183;9 and 2&#183;2%, respectively) in both captive and free-living animals. The results are compared with previously published values for milk composition in Chiroptera and are discussed in the context of nursing behaviour and diet in captive and free-living flying-foxes. 
