- Rodrigues Flying Fox
Taxobox
name = Rodrigues Flying Fox
status = CR | status_system = IUCN3.1
regnum =Animalia
phylum =Chordata
classis =Mammalia
ordo =Chiroptera
familia =Pteropodidae
genus = "Pteropus "
species = "P. rodricensis"
binomial = "Pteropus rodricensis"
binomial_authority = Dobson, 1878
synonyms =The Rodrigues Flying Fox or Rodrigues Fruit Bat ("Pteropus rodricensis") is a species of
bat in the familyPteropodidae , the flying foxes or fruit bats. It is endemic to Rodrigues, an island in theIndian Ocean belonging toMauritius . Its naturalhabitat is tropical moist lowlandforest s. It is a sociable species which lives in large groups. It can reach 350 grams in weight and has a wingspan of 90 centimetres.It is threatened by
habitat loss through storm damage and human intervention and also by localhunting for food. Formerly the daytime roosts or 'camps' of this flying fox contained more than 500 individuals. The species currently numbers just a few hundred in the wild and is classified as critically endangered by theIUCN . TheJersey Zoo has undertaken a successfulcaptive breeding program and there are now colonies in several zoos.At night the bats forage in dry woodland for fruit of various trees such as
tamarind s, rose-apples,mango es, palms andfig s. Like many other fruit bats they squeeze out the juices and soft pulp, rarely swallowing the harder parts. Observations in captivity show that each dominant male gathers a harem of up to ten females, with which he roosts and mates. Subordinate and immature males tend to roost in another part of the camp.References
*ARKive (2003-2008) [http://www.arkive.org/species/GES/mammals/Pteropus_rodricensis/more_info.html Rodrigues flying fox ("Pteropus rodricensis")] . Accessed
20 February 2008 .
* Mickleburgh, S., Hutson, A. & Bergmans, W. 2004. [http://www.iucnredlist.org/search/details.php/18755/all Pteropus rodricensis] . [http://www.iucnredlist.org 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. ] Downloaded on30 July 2007 .
*Animal (book) Editor in chief: David Burnie. 2001. page 110
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