Rodrigues flying fox
| Rodrigues flying fox | |
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| A Rodrigues flying fox (Pteropus rodricensis) at Cotswold Wildlife Park | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Chiroptera |
| Family: | Pteropodidae |
| Genus: | Pteropus |
| Species: | P. rodricensis
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| Binomial name | |
| Pteropus rodricensis Dobson, 1878
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| Rodrigues flying fox range | |
| Synonyms | |
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The Rodrigues flying fox or Rodrigues fruit bat (Pteropus rodricensis) is a species of bat in the family
endangered". In an effort to preserve them from extinction
, some bats have been caught and are being bred in various zoos around the world.
Ecology
It is a sociable species which lives in large groups. It can reach 350 g (12 oz) in weight and has a wingspan of 90 cm (35 in). At night, the bats forage in dry woodland for fruit of various trees, such as tamarinds, rose-apples, mangoes, palms, and figs. Like many other fruit bats, they squeeze out the juices and soft pulp, rarely swallowing the harder parts. Observations in captivity show each dominant male gathers a harem of up to ten females, with which he roosts and mates. Subordinate and immature males tend to roost in another part of the camp.
Status
The Rodrigues flying fox is threatened by
IUCN. The Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust has undertaken a successful captive breeding program, and there are now colonies in several zoos. Due to its imperiled status, it is identified by the Alliance for Zero Extinction as a species in danger of imminent extinction.[2] In 2013, Bat Conservation International listed this species as one of the 35 species of its worldwide priority list of conservation.[3] In 2017, the IUCN determined that this species now has an increasing population trend, so conservation efforts may prove successful for this species.[1]
Zoos
Colonies are kept in the
Brookfield Zoo, the Bronx Zoo, the Oregon Zoo, the Moody Gardens Rainforest Pyramid, the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, Disney's Animal Kingdom, the Copenhagen Zoo, the Belfast Zoo, Curraghs Wildlife Park, Folly Farm Zoo, Dublin Zoo, Paignton Zoo, Royal Burgers' Zoo, Prague Zoo amongst others. The largest captive group is at Chester Zoo
.
References
- ^ . Retrieved 16 November 2021.
- ^ "A Five-Year Plan for Global Bat Conservation" (PDF). batcon.org. Bat Conservation International. October 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 17, 2018. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
- ^ "Annual Report 2013-2014" (PDF). batcon.org. Bat Conservation International. August 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 7, 2017. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
- ARKive (2003–2008) Rodrigues flying fox (Pteropus rodricensis). Accessed 20 February 2008.
- Animal (book) Editor in chief: David Burnie. 2011