The subspecies are based on populations that occur on different islands.[4]
Descriptionedit
The Ryukyu flying fox is slightly smaller than the Indian flying fox, with a wingspan of 1.24–1.41 m (4 ft 1 in – 4 ft 8 in). It weighs 400–500 g (0.88–1.10 lb).[4] Its forearm is approximately 140 mm (5.5 in) long.[5] 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.[6] Its ears are small and pointed, and are difficult to see beneath its thick fur. Its flight membranes are dark brown in color.[2]
Biology and ecologyedit
It is mostly frugivorous, consuming the fruits of at least 53 plant species; the flowers of 20 plant species; the leaves of 18 plant species; and the bark of one plant species.[7] It has also been observed consuming eight different species of insect.[8] The Chinese banyan tree is an important source of food year-round.[7] It is an important pollinator of a subspecies of Schima wallichii, an evergreen tree. It also pollinates a species of climbing vine, Mucuna macrocarpa. It is a nocturnal species, usually solitary roosting in trees during the day and foraging at night. The Ryukyu flying fox enhances seed dispersal, as seeds from digested fruits are deposited as guano up to 1,833 m (1.139 mi) from the parent trees.[4]
Distribution and habitatedit
The Ryukyu flying fox is native to Taiwan, Japan and the Philippines. In Japan it is found on the Ōsumi Islands, Tokara Islands, Okinawa Islands, Miyako Islands, Yaeyama Islands and Daitō 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.[1]
Statusedit
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 humansedit
In Temminck's initial description, he wrote that it "devastates" orchards.[2] Its depredation on orchards caused Okinawa Prefecture to launch an investigation in 2012. In two villages surveyed in 2013, it was estimated that flying foxes cause 19 million yen ($175 thousand USD) in damages to citrus crops annually. Many Japanese farmers believe that the Ryukyu flying fox is a pest that should be managed by culling.[5]
Referencesedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pteropus dasymallus.
Wikispecies has information related to Pteropus dasymallus.
^ abcVincenot, C.E. (2017). "Pteropus dasymallus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T18722A22080614. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-2.RLTS.T18722A22080614.en. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
^ abcdTemminck, 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.
^ abcNakamoto, Atsushi; Kinjo, Kazumitsu; Izawa, Masako (2008). "The role of Orii's flying-fox (Pteropus dasymallus inopinatus) as a pollinator and a seed disperser on Okinawa-jima Island, the Ryukyu Archipelago, Japan" (PDF). Ecological Research. 24 (2): 405–414. doi:10.1007/s11284-008-0516-y. S2CID 901864.
^ abVincenot, Christian Ernest; Collazo, Anja Maria; Wallmo, Kristy; Koyama, Lina (2015). "Public awareness and perceptual factors in the conservation of elusive species: The case of the endangered Ryukyu flying fox" (PDF). Global Ecology and Conservation. 3: 526–540. doi:10.1016/j.gecco.2015.02.005.
^Andrew T. Smith; Yan Xie; Robert S. Hoffmann; Darrin Lunde; John MacKinnon; Don E. Wilson; W. Chris Wozencraft, eds. (2010). A Guide to the Mammals of China (illustrated ed.). Princeton University Press. p. 332. ISBN9781400834112.
^ abNakamoto, Atsushi; Kinjo, Kazumitsu; Izawa, Masako (2007). "Food habits of Orii's flying-fox, Pteropus dasymallus inopinatus, in relation to food availability in an urban area of Okinawa-jima Island, the Ryukyu Archipelago, Japan". Acta Chiropterologica. 9: 237–249. doi:10.3161/1733-5329(2007)9[237:FHOOFP]2.0.CO;2.
^Funakoshi, K; Watanabe, H; Kunisaki, T (1993). "Feeding ecology of the northern Ryukyu fruit bat, Pteropus dasymallus dasymallus, in a warm-temperate region". Journal of Zoology. 230 (2): 221. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1993.tb02684.x.
April 11, 2024
ryukyu, flying, also, okinawa, flying, ryukyu, fruit, pteropus, dasymallus, species, megabat, family, pteropodidae, found, japan, taiwan, batanes, babuyan, islands, philippines, natural, habitats, subtropical, tropical, forests, subtropical, tropical, swamps, . See also Okinawa flying fox 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 Ryukyu flying foxConservation statusVulnerable IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass MammaliaOrder ChiropteraFamily PteropodidaeGenus PteropusSpecies P dasymallusBinomial namePteropus dasymallusTemminck 1825Ryukyu flying fox range Contents 1 Taxonomy and etymology 2 Description 3 Biology and ecology 4 Distribution and habitat 5 Status 6 Relationship to humans 7 ReferencesTaxonomy and etymology editIt was described as a new species in 1825 by Dutch zoologist Coenraad Jacob Temminck Temminck acquired the specimens used for his description from Dutch businessman Jan Cock Blomhoff 2 Its species name dasymallus is likely from Ancient Greek dasus hairy and Ancient Greek mallos woolly Temminck described its fur as long and woolly 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 yayeyamaeThe subspecies are based on populations that occur on different islands 4 Description editThe Ryukyu flying fox is slightly smaller than the Indian flying fox with a wingspan of 1 24 1 41 m 4 ft 1 in 4 ft 8 in It weighs 400 500 g 0 88 1 10 lb 4 Its forearm is approximately 140 mm 5 5 in long 5 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 6 Its ears are small and pointed and are difficult to see beneath its thick fur Its flight membranes are dark brown in color 2 Biology and ecology editIt is mostly frugivorous consuming the fruits of at least 53 plant species the flowers of 20 plant species the leaves of 18 plant species and the bark of one plant species 7 It has also been observed consuming eight different species of insect 8 The Chinese banyan tree is an important source of food year round 7 It is an important pollinator of a subspecies of Schima wallichii an evergreen tree It also pollinates a species of climbing vine Mucuna macrocarpa It is a nocturnal species usually solitary roosting in trees during the day and foraging at night The Ryukyu flying fox enhances seed dispersal as seeds from digested fruits are deposited as guano up to 1 833 m 1 139 mi from the parent trees 4 Distribution and habitat edit source source source source source source source The Ryukyu flying fox is native to Taiwan Japan and the Philippines In Japan it is found on the Ōsumi Islands Tokara Islands Okinawa Islands Miyako Islands Yaeyama Islands and Daitō 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 1 Status editThe 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 editIn Temminck s initial description he wrote that it devastates orchards 2 Its depredation on orchards caused Okinawa Prefecture to launch an investigation in 2012 In two villages surveyed in 2013 it was estimated that flying foxes cause 19 million yen 175 thousand USD in damages to citrus crops annually Many Japanese farmers believe that the Ryukyu flying fox is a pest that should be managed by culling 5 References edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pteropus dasymallus nbsp Wikispecies has information related to Pteropus dasymallus a b c Vincenot C E 2017 Pteropus dasymallus IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017 e T18722A22080614 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2017 2 RLTS T18722A22080614 en Retrieved 16 November 2021 a b c d Temminck C J 1825 Cinquieme Monographie Vues generales sur l ordre des cheiropteres Monographies de Mammalogie ou description de quelques genres de Mammiferes dont les especes ont ete observees dans les differens musees 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 a b c Nakamoto Atsushi Kinjo Kazumitsu Izawa Masako 2008 The role of Orii s flying fox Pteropus dasymallus inopinatus as a pollinator and a seed disperser on Okinawa jima Island the Ryukyu Archipelago Japan PDF Ecological Research 24 2 405 414 doi 10 1007 s11284 008 0516 y S2CID 901864 a b Vincenot Christian Ernest Collazo Anja Maria Wallmo Kristy Koyama Lina 2015 Public awareness and perceptual factors in the conservation of elusive species The case of the endangered Ryukyu flying fox PDF Global Ecology and Conservation 3 526 540 doi 10 1016 j gecco 2015 02 005 Andrew T Smith Yan Xie Robert S Hoffmann Darrin Lunde John MacKinnon Don E Wilson W Chris Wozencraft eds 2010 A Guide to the Mammals of China illustrated ed Princeton University Press p 332 ISBN 9781400834112 a b Nakamoto Atsushi Kinjo Kazumitsu Izawa Masako 2007 Food habits of Orii s flying fox Pteropus dasymallus inopinatus in relation to food availability in an urban area of Okinawa jima Island the Ryukyu Archipelago Japan Acta Chiropterologica 9 237 249 doi 10 3161 1733 5329 2007 9 237 FHOOFP 2 0 CO 2 Funakoshi K Watanabe H Kunisaki T 1993 Feeding ecology of the northern Ryukyu fruit bat Pteropus dasymallus dasymallus in a warm temperate region Journal of Zoology 230 2 221 doi 10 1111 j 1469 7998 1993 tb02684 x Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ryukyu flying fox amp oldid 1165408239, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
