how big can bats get

Bats can vary greatly in size depending on the species. The largest bats in the world are called flying foxes or megabats. Some species, such as the giant golden-crowned flying fox (Acerodon jubatus), can have a wingspan of about 5 feet (1.7 meters) and weigh up to around 3 pounds (1.4 to 1.6 kilograms). These bats have a head-body length of up to 45 centimeters (17.75 inches). Other large species like the Madagascan flying fox and the hammer-headed bat have wingspans ranging around 3 to 4 feet. In contrast, the smallest bats, like the bumblebee bat, have a body length of about 2-3 centimeters and a wingspan of around 15 centimeters, weighing just a few grams. So, bats can range in size from very tiny insects to animals with wingspans comparable to or exceeding that of a small dog. Thus, the biggest bats can have wingspans around 5 feet (1.7 meters) and weigh over 3 pounds (1.4 kg).