Rodrigues flying fox
| Rodrigues flying fox | |
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| File:Pteropus rodricensis (Zurich Zoo) - back.JPG | |
| At Zurich Zoo. | |
| Scientific classification | |
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P. rodricensis
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| Binomial name | |
| Pteropus rodricensis Dobson, 1878
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| File:Rodrigues Flying Fox area.png | |
| Rodrigues flying fox range | |
| Synonyms | |
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Pteropus mascarinus |
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The Rodrigues flying fox or Rodrigues fruit bat (Pteropus rodricensis) is a species of bat in the family Pteropodidae, the flying foxes or fruit bats. It is endemic to Rodrigues, an island in the Indian Ocean belonging to Mauritius. Its natural habitat is tropical lowland forests. The bats are sociable, roost in large groups during the day and feed at night, squeezing the juice and flesh out of fruits. They are hunted by humans for food and their numbers have been dwindling, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated the species as being "critically endangered". In an effort to preserve them from extinction, some bats have been caught and are being bred in various zoos around the world.
Contents
Ecology
It is a sociable species which lives in large groups. It can reach 350 g in weight and has a wingspan of 90 cm. At night, the bats forage in dry woodland for fruit of various trees, such as tamarinds, rose-apples, mangoes, palms, and figs. Like many other fruit bats, they squeeze out the juices and soft pulp, rarely swallowing the harder parts. Observations in captivity show each dominant male gathers a harem of up to 10 females, with which he roosts and mates. Subordinate and immature males tend to roost in another part of the camp.
Status
The Rodrigues flying fox is threatened by habitat loss through storm damage and human intervention, and by local hunting for food. Formerly, the daytime roosts or 'camps' of this flying fox often contained more than 500 individuals. The species currently numbers just a few hundred in total in the wild, and the bat is classified as critically endangered by the IUCN. The Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust has undertaken a successful captive breeding program, and there are now colonies in several zoos. Likewise, the Organization for Bat Conservation is funding an international conservation project.
Zoos
Colonies are kept in the Philadelphia Zoo, the Prospect Park Zoo, the Brookfield Zoo, the Oregon Zoo, the Moody Gardens Rainforest Pyramid, the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, Disney's Animal Kingdom, the Copenhagen Zoo, the Belfast Zoo, Curraghs Wildlife Park, Dublin Zoo amongst others. The largest captive group is at Chester Zoo.
References
- ARKive (2003–2008) Rodrigues flying fox (Pteropus rodricensis). Accessed 20 February 2008.
- Mickleburgh, S., Hutson, A. & Bergmans, W. 2004. Pteropus rodricensis. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 30 July 2007.
- Animal (book) Editor in chief: David Burnie. 2011
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