The Samoan flying fox is more commonly known as pe’a vao in the native tongue. It is a fruit bat weighing about 1 pound but with a wingspan of up to 3 ft. Although not specifically adapted for this purpose, their wings do allow them to fly. Their fur colour ranges from blonde to grey on the head, neck and shoulders with a russet brown, like that of a fox, on the body and wings. The basal ledges of their cheek teeth are considered advanced when compared to bats of the same species. They have lived up to 20 years in captivity and although there are no real statistics on their lifespan in the wild, it is believed to be lower due to environmental factors.