Rodrigues Flying Fox

Rodrigues Flying Fox

Rodrigues fruit bat

Kingdom
Phylum
Subphylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
SPECIES
Pteropus rodricensis
Population size
20,000
Life Span
30 years
Weight
350
12
goz
g oz 
Length
15-20
5.9-7.9
cminch
cm inch 
Wingspan
90
35
cminch
cm inch 

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 "endangered". In an effort to preserve them from extinction, some bats have been caught and are being bred in various zoos around the world.

No

Nocturnal

He

Herbivore

Fr

Frugivore

Ar

Arboreal

Zo

Zoochory

Is

Island endemic

Po

Pollinator

Te

Terrestrial

Te

Territorial

Po

Polygyny

So

Social

Co

Colonial

Do

Dominance hierarchy

No

Not a migrant

R

starts with

Appearance

The Rodrigues flying fox is a species of flying foxes or fruit bats. These bats are called "flying foxes" because they have pointed ears and elongated muzzles which make them look like small foxes. The fur color of Rodrigues flying foxes varies and can be orange, yellow, red, silver or even black. Males and females in this species have a similar appearance.

Video

Distribution

Geography

Continents
Subcontinents
Countries
Biogeographical realms

Rodrigues flying foxes are native to Rodrigues, an island in the Indian Ocean belonging to Mauritius. Their natural habitat is tropical lowland forests. However, today they live in the valleys of the island, plantation forests, and in remaining patches of native forests.

Rodrigues Flying Fox habitat map

Climate zones

Rodrigues Flying Fox habitat map
Rodrigues Flying Fox
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Habits and Lifestyle

Rodrigues flying foxes are social and live in large groups. Females roost together in groups and form a colony. Males roost alone. There is a dominance hierarchy among males, and they are territorial. They mark their territory with the scent by rubbing the neck, head, and chest on branches. Rodrigues bats forage at night and find their food with the help of excellent vision and sense of smell. They feed by squeezing out the juices and soft pulp of fruits, rarely swallowing the harder partsk.

Seasonal behavior

Diet and Nutrition

Rodrigues flying foxes are frugivorous animals. They eat the fruit of various trees, such as tamarinds, rose-apples, mangoes, palms, and figs. These bats also feed on flowers, nectar, and pollen.

Mating Habits

MATING BEHAVIOR
REPRODUCTION SEASON
October-December
PREGNANCY DURATION
120-180 days
BABY CARRYING
1 pup
INDEPENDENT AGE
6-12 months
FEMALE NAME
female
MALE NAME
male
BABY NAME
pup

Little is known about the mating system in Rodrigues flying foxes. However, as the dominant male gathers a harem of up to 10 females, with which he roosts and mates may suggest that these bats are polygynous. Subordinate and immature males tend to roost in another part of the camp. The breeding season occurs in October-December and females produce only one pup. The gestation period lasts around 120-180 days. Right after birth the pup clings to its mother's belly and stay attached around 30 days. When it becomes too heavy to carry, the mother leaves her pup at the roost. At 2-3 months after birth, young can fly and are fully weaned but they still roost with their mothers. Young pups become fully independent at 6-12 months after birth and reach reproductive maturity when they are 1- 2 years old.

Population

Population threats

Rodrigues flying foxes are threatened by habitat loss through storm damage and human intervention, and by local hunting for food. They also suffer from climate change and serve weather through droughts, storms, and flooding. Frequent hurricanes destroy the habitat of these bats and they lose their food and shelter. These hurricanes also blow the animals out to the sea where they die.

Population number

According to the IUCN Red List, the total population size of Rodrigues flying foxes is around 20,000 individuals. Currently, this species is classified as Endangered (EN) on the IUCN Red List, however, its numbers today are increasing.

Ecological niche

Due to their diet, Rodrigues flying foxes act as important seed dispersers. They are also vital pollinators of certain flowers and trees throughout their range.

References

1. Rodrigues Flying Fox on Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rodrigues_flying_fox
2. Rodrigues Flying Fox on The IUCN Red List site - https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/18755/22087057

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