Livingstone's Fruit Bat
| Livingston's Fruit Bat | |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Chiroptera |
| Suborder: | Megachiroptera |
| Family: | Pteropodidae |
| Genus: | Pteropus |
| Species: | P. livingstonii |
| Binomial name | |
| Pteropus livingstonii Gray, 1866 |
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| Livingstone's Fruit Bat range | |
Livingstone's Fruit Bat (or Livingstone's Flying Fox; (Pteropus livingstonii) is a megabat in the genus Pteropus. Pteropus livingstonii is an Old World fruit bat from two of the four Comoros islands of Anjouan and Mohéli on the Western Indian Ocean between Africa and Northern Madagascar. [1] It is the largest bat of all Comorian species. Its preferred habitat is montane forest, the destruction of which is a major threat to the bat population. As of 2003, the total population was estimated at 1200 individuals.They defend themselves against predators by spraying urine at their attackers. Other threats to the Bats survival include Storms, Hunting and their struggles to readapt to new habitats. [2]
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[edit] Life history
Pteropus livingstonii’s diet consists of fruit, pollen and/or nectar and leaves. [3] Because of their diet, it could mean that they are an important keystone species due to their role as seed dispersers and pollinators. Pteropus livingstonii roosts in trees, mostly on southeast-facing, steep slopes in the montane tropical forests. Elise Granek found that these fruit bats had a strong association with vegetative and abiotic variables, which included aspect, altitude, habitat type, tree species richness and the presence of water. They have been found roosting together in groups of 6-160 individuals per roost site, which can consist of 1-8 trees per site. [4] These large colonies are referred to as “camps” which can have a dominant male with up to 8 breeding females. The males mark their territories by using their sent glands located on their neck and shoulders, which produce a strong musky scent that they rub on branches of trees.[1] After mating, the pregnant females relocate to maternity roost sites to give birth and raise their young until they reach maturity. [3] [1] The young pups are born fully furred, eyes open and big feet to be able to grip onto their mothers directly after birth..[1] The young are born July through September. Each female typically bears one per year. The young become independent after three to six months.[1]
[edit] Physical Appearance
Livingstone's Fruit bats are mostly black in colour, and have some golden spots of fur.[2]The amount of golden hair varies between individuals. Distinguishing characteristics include their rounded ears and large orange eyes. The average weight of Pteropus livingstonii is 500-800g, body length is about 30cm (1ft) and their wingspan can be as long as 1.4m (4.5 ft). They do not exhibit sexual dimorphism..[1]
[edit] Conservation
Pteropus livingstonii is listed under Appendix I of CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of fauna and flora) [5] In 1995 the IUCN developed an action plan for the species which included research, community education programs and training of bat monitoring. A non-governmental organization called Action Comoros initiated this action plan..[1] Action Comoros developed an environmental education program (EEP). The main goals of this EEP were to raise awareness, develop resources, train educators, promote knowledge, foster pride and involve locals. These EEP’s are important in the short-term benefits of conservation and improve a strong foundation of conservation programs for the long-term. [6] A captive breeding program was initiated by the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust in 1992. Having a captive breeding program could save Pteropus livingstonii from going completely extinct..[1] There are many efforts being made to aid in the survival of Pteropus livingstonii. But as the populations of the natives increase on these Comoros islands, deforestation will continue to rise as well. As stated by the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, “If the bats’ natural habitat is not protected, this amazing species could be extinct within 10 years.”.[1]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f g h Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust. 2006. Livingstone’s Fruit Bat Species Factsheet.
- ^ Massicot, Paul (03 Jan 2007). "Animal Info - Livingstone's Flying Fox". http://www.animalinfo.org/species/bat/pterlivi.htm. Retrieved 2007-05-07."
- ^ a b Granek, E. 2000. An Analysis of Pteropus livingstonii Roost Habitat: Indicators for Forest Conservation on Ajouan and Moheli. TRI News: Annual Review of the Tropical Resources Institute Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies. 19: 29-32.
- ^ Granek, E. 2002. Conservation of Pteropus livingstonii Based on Roost Site Habitat Characteristics on Ajouan and Moheli, Comoros Islands. Biological Conservation. 108: 93-100.
- ^ UNEP-WCMC (Comps.). 2011. Checklist of CITIES species (CD-ROM). CITIES Secretariat, Geneva, Switzerland, and UNEP-WCMC, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
- ^ Trewhella, W. J., Rodriguez-Clark, K. M., Corp, N., Entwistle, A., Garrett, S. R. T., Granek, E., Lengel, K. L., Raboude, M. J., Reason, P. F., and Sewall, B. J. 2005. Environmental Education as a Component of Multidisciplinary Conservation Programs: Lessons from Conservation Initiatives for Critically Endangered Fruit Bats in the Western Indian Ocean. Conservation Biology. 19:1, 75-85.
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