The Mauritian flying fox, also known as the greater Mascarene flying fox or Mauritius fruit bat (Pteropus niger), is a large megabat endemic to Mauritius and La Reunion. It can reach a wingspan of 80 centimetres, making it the largest endemic mammal on Mauritius, and its fur is golden. It has small ears, thick hair on the tibiae and a glossy, blackish-brown mantle tinged with rufous that runs into a dark brown median spinal tract flanked by buff lateral patches. It is a medium-sized species with an adult forearm that averages 152 millimetres. The split of Pteropus from its megabat relatives occurred between 28.37 and 34.63 million years ago, and the Wikipedia list of pteropodids gives its IUCN status as endangered.
Facts
Classification
Population Trend System (Realm) ThreatsBiological Resource Use 2 ThreatsClimate Change and Severe Weather 2 Relationship to People Relationship to People Living or Extinct Conservation Status Activity Pattern Connections
Child Taxon Of
Source Mauritian flying fox (Wikipedia)
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Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Source Mauritian flying fox (Wikipedia)Distribution, MauritiusQuote, Distribution, Mauritius
The Mauritian flying fox (Pteropus niger), also known as Greater Mascarene flying fox or Mauritius fruit bat, is a large megabat species endemic to Mauritius and La Réunion.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Source Mauritian flying fox (Wikipedia)Distribution, RéunionQuote, Distribution, Réunion
The Mauritian flying fox (Pteropus niger), also known as Greater Mascarene flying fox or Mauritius fruit bat, is a large megabat species endemic to Mauritius and La Réunion.
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 niger (Diet-Fruit, Diet-Nect, Diet-Inv, Diet-PlantO columns)
3768 Pteropus niger Pteropodidae 0 0 0 0 0 0 100 0 0 0 Ref_1 ABC Ar A 1 0 0 Ref_1 ABC 456.25 Ref_117 1
MamFuncDat.txt, row Pteropus niger (Activity-Nocturnal, Activity-Crepuscular, Activity-Diurnal columns)
3768 Pteropus niger Pteropodidae 0 0 0 0 0 0 100 0 0 0 Ref_1 ABC Ar A 1 0 0 Ref_1 ABC 456.25 Ref_117 1
View the Source 2. Mauritian flying fox (Wikipedia)
Distribution, Mauritius
The Mauritian flying fox (Pteropus niger), also known as Greater Mascarene flying fox or Mauritius fruit bat, is a large megabat species endemic to Mauritius and La Réunion.
Distribution, Réunion
The Mauritian flying fox (Pteropus niger), also known as Greater Mascarene flying fox or Mauritius fruit bat, is a large megabat species endemic to Mauritius and La Réunion.
Article text, behaviour
Mostly nocturnal, although some are occasionally seen during the day, they normally roost by sunrise.
Article text, population
Currently, the population is regarded as declining by the IUCN; however, in September 2006, the Government of Mauritius decided to initiate culling of animals.
Article text, threats
On Mauritius, it was severely affected by deforestation and hunting.
Article text, threats, threats
A cyclone devastated the population, but it slowly recovered to an estimated 20,000 animals in 2006.
Article text, ecology
Their role in these ecosystems is as pollinators and seed dispersers.
Article text, human use
On Mauritius, it was severely affected by deforestation and hunting.
Article text, habitat
It occurs in the forests within the national parks of Black River Gorges, Combo and Bel Ombre.
Child Taxon Of: Pteropodidae, Lead
The Mauritian flying fox (Pteropus niger), also known as Greater Mascarene flying fox or Mauritius fruit bat, is a large megabat species endemic to Mauritius and La Réunion.
In Group: Bats (Chiroptera), Lead
The Mauritian flying fox (Pteropus niger), also known as Greater Mascarene flying fox or Mauritius fruit bat, is a large megabat species endemic to Mauritius and La Réunion.
View the Source3. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF): GBIF species 5218652: species profile of Pteropus niger
Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)speciesProfilesQuote, speciesProfiles
"extinct": false
View the Source 4. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF): GBIF species 5218652: IUCN Red List category of Pteropus niger
Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)iucnRedListCategoryQuote, iucnRedListCategory
"category": "ENDANGERED"
View the Source 5. AnAge (Human Ageing Genomic Resources): AnAge entry for Pteropus niger
AnAge (Human Ageing Genomic Resources)Lifespan, ageing, and relevant traits: Maximum longevityQuote, Lifespan, ageing, and relevant traits: Maximum longevity
Maximum longevity 19.4 years (captivity)
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