Pteropus pelagicus: Difference between revisions
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Their throats and chests are light brown or reddish brown, while their lower abdomen is darker brown. |
Their throats and chests are light brown or reddish brown, while their lower abdomen is darker brown. |
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Many individuals have a large white patch on their bellies. |
Many individuals have a large white patch on their bellies. |
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Individual hairs are {{convert|14.7-16|mm|in|abbr=on}} long. |
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''P. p. pelagicus'' has more contrast in its coloration than ''P. p. insularis |
''P. p. pelagicus'' has more contrast in its coloration than ''P. p. insularis'', and they also tend to have larger abdominal white patches. |
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Their forearms are {{convert|101-108.7|mm|in|abbr=on)) long. |
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They weigh {{convert|148-190|g|oz}}.<ref name="Buden 2013"/> |
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==Range and habitat== |
==Range and habitat== |
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Revision as of 03:01, 18 September 2017
| Pteropus pelagicus | |
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| Species: | P. pelagicus
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| Pteropus pelagicus Kittlitz, 1836
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Pteropus pelagicus is a species of fruit bat in the family Pteropodidae. It includes two subspecies that were formerly recognized as full species— Pteropus insularis (Chuuk flying fox) and Pteropus phaeocephalus (Mortlock flying fox).[1] It is endemic to Micronesia. It is threatened by habitat loss.
Etymology and taxonomy
The species was described by German naturalist Heinrich von Kittlitz in 1836. He gave it the species name pelagicus from Ancient Greek πελαγικός 'of the open sea'.[2]
In 2013, a study was published that challenged the status of the Chuuk flying fox and the Mortlock flying fox as species. The study stated that the Chuuk flying fox was not significantly different from the Mortlock flying fox, and that they represent two subspecies of the same species, which should be called Pteropus pelagicus. They proposed that the Chuuk flying fox be referred to as P. p. insularis, and the Mortlock flying fox be referred to as P. p. pelagicus. The study also concluded that the closest relative of P. pelagicus is the Guam flying fox.[1] There are currently two recognized subspecies of Pteropus pelagicus, both of which were formerly recognized as distinct species.
- P. p. pelagicus Kittlitz, 1836 (Nomoi Islands)
- P. p. insularis Hombron and Jacquinot, 1842 (Islands of Chuuk Lagoon and Namonuito Atoll)
The authors of the 2013 study suggested that the common name of Chuuk flying fox be retained to refer to Pteropus pelagicus. They recommended it over the name "Mortlock flying fox" because there is a tradition of using geographic-based common names for flying foxes of the Caroline Islands.[1]
Description
The heads of the adults are creamy white, buff, or tawny in adults. The heads of the juveniles are grayish brown, lacking red or yellow highlights. The back and rump are dark brown, with lighter hairs interspersed throughout. Their faces are dark brown to almost black, while the tops of the heads are brown or grayish brown. Their throats and chests are light brown or reddish brown, while their lower abdomen is darker brown. Many individuals have a large white patch on their bellies. Individual hairs are 14.7–16 mm (0.58–0.63 in) long. P. p. pelagicus has more contrast in its coloration than P. p. insularis, and they also tend to have larger abdominal white patches. Their forearms are {{convert|101-108.7|mm|in|abbr=on)) long. They weigh 148–190 grams (5.2–6.7 oz).[1]
Range and habitat
P. pelagicus is located on the Nomoi Islands, Chuuk Lagoon, and Namonuito Atoll. All three locations are within the Federated States of Micronesia. P. p. pelagicus is found on the Nomoi islands, while P. p. insularis is located on the other two sites. The range of the two subspecies is separated by 171 km (106 mi).[3][4][5][6][7] The entire range of P. p. pelagicus is only 11.9 km2 (4.6 sq mi).[1]
Conservation
When they were still considered separate species, the International Union for Conservation of Nature assessed that both the Chuuk flying fox and the Mortlock flying fox were critically endangered.[8][9] The IUCN has not yet assessed the status Pteropus pelagicus, however. P. p. pelagicus is threatened by climate change, as the atolls where they live are only 3–5 m (9.8–16.4 ft) above sea level.<ref name="Buden 2013">
Sources
- ^ a b c d e Buden, D. W., Helgen, K. M., & Wiles, G. J. (2013). Taxonomy, distribution, and natural history of flying foxes (Chiroptera, Pteropodidae) in the Mortlock Islands and Chuuk State, Caroline Islands. ZooKeys, (345), 97.
- ^ Kittlitz FH. (1836. [reprinted 1971]) Observation Zoologiques faites pendant l’expédition de la corvette Le Séniavine. In: Lütke F, Voyage autour du monde, 1826–1829, Volume 3 Bibliotheca Australiana No. 60. Da Capo Press, New York, 237–330
- ^ Oustalet E. (1895) Les mammiferes et les oiseaux des Iles Mariannes. Nouvelles Archives du Museum d’Histoire Naturelle, ser. 3, 7: 141–228.
- ^ Andersen K. (1912) Catalogue of the Chiroptera in the collection of the British Museum, Volume 1, Megachiroptera, Second edition. British Museum (Natural History), London.
- ^ Rainey WE, Pierson ED. (1992) Distribution of Pacific island flying foxes. In: Wilson DE, Graham GL. (Eds). Pacific island flying foxes: proceedings of an international conservation conference.U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Biological Report 90(23): 111-121
- ^ Kepler AK. (1994) Report: Chuuk coastal resource inventory, terrestrial surveys, August 4–14, 1993.Administrative report to CORIAL (Coastal, Ocean, Reef, and Island Advisors, Ltd.), Federated States of Micronesia Government, The Nature Conservancy Hawaii, and East-West Center, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii.
- ^ Flannery TF. (1995) Mammals of the south-west Pacific & Moluccan Islands. Cornell University Press, Ithaca, New York.
- ^ Helgen, K. & Wiles, G. 2010. Pteropus insularis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2010: e.T18730A8512587. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-2.RLTS.T18730A8512587.en
- ^ Duff, A., & Lawson, A. (2004). Mammals of the world: a checklist. Yale University Press.
