Ryukyu flying fox
| Ryukyu flying fox | |
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| Stuffed specimen of Pteropus dasymallus at the National Museum of Nature and Science in Tokyo, Japan | |
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| Species: | P. dasymallus
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| Binomial name | |
| Pteropus dasymallus Temminck, 1825
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| Ryukyu flying fox range | |
The Ryukyu flying fox or Ryukyu fruit bat (Pteropus dasymallus) is a species of megabat in the family Pteropodidae. It is found in Japan, Taiwan, and the Batanes and Babuyan Islands of the Philippines. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests and subtropical or tropical swamps. It is threatened by habitat loss and by hunting for food and the IUCN classify it as "Vulnerable".
Taxonomy and etymology
It was described as a new species in 1825 by Dutch zoologist Coenraad Jacob Temminck.[2] The five subspecies are:[3]
- Daito fruit bat - P. d. daitoensis
- Erabu fruit bat - P. d. dasymallus
- Taiwanese fruit bat - P. d. formosus
- Orii's fruit bat - P. d. inopinatus
- Yaeyama fruit bat - P. d. yayeyamae
Description
The Ryukyu flying fox is slightly smaller than Pteropus giganteus, with a wingspan of 1.24–1.41 m (4 ft 1 in – 4 ft 8 in). The body of the bat is covered in long hairs, making the body seem almost woolly. The bat is reddish brown and has a yellowish white nape.[4] Its ears are small and pointed, and are difficult to see beneath its thick fur. Its flight membranes are dark brown in color.[2]
Distribution and habitat
The Ryukyu flying fox is native to Taiwan, Japan and the Philippines. In Japan it is found on the Osumi Islands, Tokara Islands, Okinawa Islands, Miyako Islands, Yaeyama Islands and Daito Islands. In the Philippines it is present in Batan, Dalupiri and Fuga. Its habitat is forests where it roosts during the day in trees, singly or in small groups. It feeds on the fruit and flowers of trees including introduced species and those grown as crops.[1]
Status
The largest population of these bats is probably on the Philippines and is thought to be stable. In Japan there are estimated to be well over five thousand individuals but in Taiwan, there has been a large reduction in bat numbers. This species faces a number of threats. Some populations in the Philippines are hunted for consumption and this bat is considered a delicacy on Babuyan Claro. In Japan, habitat loss is the main threat but some individuals get entangled in nets placed to protect citrus crops and others are electrocuted by power-lines. Overall, most populations have been in decline though this seemed to have levelled off to some extent by 2008 when the IUCN removed this bat from the "Endangered" category and placed it in the "Vulnerable" category.[1]
Relationship to humans
In Temminck's initial description, he wrote that it "devastates" orchards.[2]
References
- ^ a b c Vincenot, C. (2017). "Pteropus dasymallus". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017. IUCN: e.T18722A22080614. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-2.RLTS.T18722A22080614.en. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
- ^ a b c Temminck, C.J. (1825). "Cinquième Monographie. Vues générales sur l'ordre des cheiroptères". Monographies de Mammalogie, ou description de quelques genres de Mammifères, dont les espèces ont été observées dans les différens musées de l'Europe. Vol. 1. Paris: G. Dufour et E. d'Ocagne. pp. 180–181, pl. XX–XVI.
- ^ "Pteropus dasymallus Temminck, 1825". ITIS Report. Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
- ^ Andrew T. Smith, Yan Xie, Robert S. Hoffmann, Darrin Lunde, John MacKinnon, Don E. Wilson, W. Chris Wozencraft, ed. (2010). A Guide to the Mammals of China (illustrated ed.). Princeton University Press. p. 332. ISBN 9781400834112.
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