Fig 1
Fig 2
Fig 3
Fig 4
Fig 5
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Order : CHIROPTERA
Family : Pteropodidae
Species : Pteropus hypomelanus
Forearm Length : up to 15 cm
Weight : up to 210 gms
Pteropus hypomelanus
(Island Flying Fox) is
the smallest of all Pteropus species; as its name suggests, it inhabits
offshore islands. Its preferred roosts are in coconut palms and Casuarina
trees. Its noisy, daytime roosts may number in the hundreds and are
sometimes located close to towns and villages.
Its fur colour is variable but is generally dark grey-brown on the lower
back to orange-brown in the underparts and around the chest and face.
This species occurs on smaller islands throughout Southeast Asia to New
Guinea. Many populations have been decimated where the local culture
includes these bats as a food source.
Fig 1 : A pair of Island Flying Fox
in a Casuarina roost at Pulau Tioman, Peninsular
Malaysia.
Figs 2 to 4 : Part of a large flock of Island Fruit Bat found feeding on
ripe figs after dusk, at Nikoi Island, Riau Archipelago, Indonesia.
Fig 5 : Dark specimen, from Nikoi Island, Riau Archipelago, Indonesia.
References :
Francis, C.M., 2001. Mammals of South-east Asia. New Holland.
Lekagul, B., McNeely, J., 1977. Mammals of Thailand. Association for the
Conservation of Wildlife, Thailand. 758 pp.
Payne, J., Francis, C.M., 1998. A Field Guide to the Mammals of
Borneo. The Sabah Society.
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