The little red flying fox (Pteropus scapulatus) is a megabat native to northern and eastern Australia. It weighs about half a kilogram and is the smallest Pteropus in mainland Australia. It occurs at the coast and further inland, camping and flying to the tropical and temperate regions that give it an annual source of nectar, and it has an unusual way of getting drinking water in dry periods, skimming a stream's surface in flight to gather it onto its fur. Wilhelm Peters described it in 1862 as a new species of flederhund from New Holland, from a type specimen collected at Cape York Peninsula, and its population gives its name to the scapulatus species group.
Facts
Classification
System (Realm) ThreatsHuman Intrusions and Disturbance 3 Relationship to PeopleAgricultural or Structural Pest 2 Living or Extinct Conservation Status Activity Pattern Comparison
CITES Appendix Connections
Child Taxon Of
Source Little red flying fox (Wikipedia)
In the Other Atlases
Found In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Source Little red flying fox (Wikipedia)Distribution, AustraliaQuote, Distribution, Australia
They resemble other species found in Australia, the bare legs, reddish fur colour, and the paler near-transparent wings distinguish it from the grey-headed species Pteropus poliocephalus, and the larger and black fruit-bat Pteropus alecto.
Sources
1. EltonTraits 1.0 (Wilman et al. 2014): EltonTraits 1.0 mammal foraging attributes (MamFuncDat)
EltonTraits 1.0 (Wilman et al. 2014)MamFuncDat.txt, row Pteropus scapulatus (Diet-Fruit, Diet-Nect, Diet-Inv, Diet-PlantO columns)
3757 Pteropus scapulatus Pteropodidae 0 0 0 0 0 0 100 0 0 0 Ref_1 ABC Ar A 1 0 0 Ref_1 ABC 405.96 Ref_117 1
MamFuncDat.txt, row Pteropus scapulatus (Activity-Nocturnal, Activity-Crepuscular, Activity-Diurnal columns)
3757 Pteropus scapulatus Pteropodidae 0 0 0 0 0 0 100 0 0 0 Ref_1 ABC Ar A 1 0 0 Ref_1 ABC 405.96 Ref_117 1
View the Source 2. Animal Diversity Web (University of Michigan Museum of Zoology): Animal Diversity Web: Pteropus scapulatus
Animal Diversity Web (University of Michigan Museum of Zoology)Conservation Status
CITES No special status
Economic Importance for Humans: Negative
Negative Impacts crop pest
Habitat, Habitat Regions
terrestrial
View the Source 3. Little red flying fox (Wikipedia)
Distribution, Australia
They resemble other species found in Australia, the bare legs, reddish fur colour, and the paler near-transparent wings distinguish it from the grey-headed species Pteropus poliocephalus, and the larger and black fruit-bat Pteropus alecto.
Article text, behaviour
The camps of P. scapulatus are found close to streams, they leave these at night to forage in woodland and forests in temperate to tropical regions.
Article text, threats
The disturbance to camps by human intervention during hot weather may cause the deaths of thousands of these bats.
Child Taxon Of: Pteropodidae, Lead
The little red flying-fox (Pteropus scapulatus) is a megachiropteran bat native to northern and eastern Australia.
In Group: Bats (Chiroptera), Lead
The little red flying-fox (Pteropus scapulatus) is a megachiropteran bat native to northern and eastern Australia.
View the Source4. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF): GBIF species 5218649: species profile of Pteropus scapulatus
Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)speciesProfilesQuote, speciesProfiles
"extinct": false
5. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF): GBIF species 5218649: IUCN Red List category of Pteropus scapulatus
Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)iucnRedListCategoryQuote, iucnRedListCategory
"category": "LEAST_CONCERN"
6. AnAge (Human Ageing Genomic Resources): AnAge entry for Pteropus scapulatus
AnAge (Human Ageing Genomic Resources)Lifespan, ageing, and relevant traits: Maximum longevityQuote, Lifespan, ageing, and relevant traits: Maximum longevity
Maximum longevity 15.8 years (captivity)
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