Pteropus rodricensis

SUBFAMILY

Pteropodinae

TAXONOMY

Pteropus rodricensis Dobson, 1878, Rodrigues, Mascarene Islands.

OTHER COMMON NAMES

English: Rodrigues flying fox.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Wingspan 3 ft (0.9 m), weight 0.7 lb (300 g). The fur is dark brown and it covers most of the body. Head, neck, and shoulders are a golden color.

DISTRIBUTION

Island of Rodriguez in the Mauritius.

HABITAT

Dense forests and dry woodlands.

BEHAVIOR

Colonial in nature. Camps are very gregarious and vocal. They are not skilled fliers.

FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET

Various fruits, such as tamarind pods and mangos.

REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY

Males will pick out territories and form harems during breeding season. During this time, the males will be physically aggressive with each other by biting. Young can fly by three to four months and remain with their mothers for up to a year.

CONSERVATION STATUS

Critically Endangered.

SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS

Hunted for food. Performs valuable pollination and seed dispersal of plants.