Otter pup and fruit bats on display at Bronx Zoo

NEW YORK (FOX 5 NEWS) - An Asian small-clawed otter pup and a colony of Rodrigues fruit bats have debuted at the Bronx Zoo, according to the Wildlife Conservation Society.

The otter pup, born this spring, is on display in JungleWorld, an exhibit that Asian jungle habitats. The fruit bats share an exhibit with the Matschie's tree kangaroos.

"Like all otters, the species is well adapted for a semi-aquatic life. Their elongated bodies and webbed feet make it easy for them to propel through the water," the WCS said in a news release. "They have dexterous paws that aid in finding and consuming food, and their fur is extremely dense and waterproof for temperature regulation."

Asian small-clawed otters are native to an area that spans from India to the Philippines, Taiwan and China.

Rodrigues fruit bats are native to Rodrigues, an island in the Indian Ocean.

The International Congress for the Conservation of Nature classifies Asian small-clawed otters as "Vulnerable" because of threats to habitat loss and exploitation, the WCS said. The IUCN classifies Rodrigues fruit bats as "Critically Endangered" because of the threat of deforestation.

The Wildlife Conservation Society's mission is to save "wildlife and wild places worldwide through science, conservation action, education, and inspiring people to value nature," according to its website. In addition to the Bronx Zoo, its flagship property, WCS runs the Prospect Park Zoo, the New York Aquarium, the Queens Zoo, and the Central Park Zoo.