![]() Ryukyu Flying Fox
HABITAT : Forest used for day time roosting. GEOGRAPHICAL SPREAD: Ryukyu islands of Kuchinoerabu; Takara; Okinawa; Mina; Ishigaki; Iriomote; Hateruma; Yonayuki and some smaller islands; Taiwan; Kashoto Island, east coast Taiwan; Daito (=Borodino) Islands: Kitaİdaito, Minamiİdaito (Corbet & Hill, 1992). CURRENT POPULATION: No total population figures are available. Estimated to be 50 animals on each of the Daito Islands. Abundant in the southern and central parts of Okinawa. Population appears to be large on Ishigaki, Iriomote and Yonayuki. SIZE: Forearm length 125 to 140cm. No information is available on body length. WEIGHT: 40 to 45g (estimate from similar sized Pteropus species). AVERAGE LIFE EXPECTANCY: Captive Pteropus species have been recorded as living to over 30 years of age in captivity. The life expectancy of the Ryukyu Flying-fox is unknown. NORMAL DIET: Fruits, especially figs. Can be a pest of commercial fruit crops. NORMAL LIFESTYLE: The Ryukyu Flying-fox lives in colonies. Fruit Bats are long-lived animals with low reproductive rates. PREVIOUS GEOGRAPHICAL SPREAD: Same as the geographical spread. REASONS FOR DECLINE: It is probable that environmental changes (especially deforestation) caused by human exploitation and by introduced animals and plants is causing reduction in available food plants and roosting sites. Electrocution by overhead power cables has also been reported. Hunted for food on Kashoto Island, Taiwan. CURRENT THREATS: Same as the reasons for decline. Catastrophic actions such as cyclones and typhoons are a threat to small populations of this species, owing to its slow population recovery rate. CONSERVATION PROJECTS: Protected as a national monument by the Japanese government. Handling of Flyingİfoxes on Kashoto is currently regulated by the Government of the Republic of China under the law validated in June, 1989 (Mickleburgh et al., 1992). The species does not occur in any protected areas. The IUCN/SSC Chiroptera Specialist Group have recommended surveys to comprehensively assess the status of this species; studies of the factors restricting population size, and the conservation of food plants and roosting sites. SPECIAL FEATURES: The Ryukyu Flying-fox has five subspecies, all of which are endangered due to their limited distribution. Fruit Bats have an economic importance through their pollination and seed dispersal of some plants used as human food crops, timber, fibres and tannins; as well as less well known local medicinal crops. The popular Durian Fruit (Durio zibethinus) depends upon bats for pollination. REFERENCES: Mickleburgh, S.P., Hutson, A.M. & Racey, P.A. (eds). 1992. Old World Fruit Bats. An Action Plan for their Conservation. IUCN, Gland. pp. 96-98. Nowak, R.M. 1991. Walker's Mammals of the World. 5th ed. Vol.1. John Hopkins University Press,London. pp. 200-204. Corbet, G.B. & Hill, J.E. 1992. The Mammals of the Indomalayan Region. Natural History Museum Publications, London. pp. 59-60 Kuroda, N. 1933. A Revision of the Genus Pteropus Found in the Islands of the Riu Kiu Chain, Japan. Journal of Mammalogy. 14(4): 312-316.
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