Pteropus melanotus

DISTRIBUTION: Nicobar Isis.; Engano Isl. and Nias Isl. (W. Sumatra); Christmas Isl.; Andaman Isis.

Sumber: Order Chiroptera

Habitat. Semideciduous, evergreen, and mangrove forests mostly near sea level but island habitats go up to elevations of ¢. 900 m. The Black-eared Flying Fox is a specialist of small islands, roosting primarily in lowland mangrove habitats. It shifts temporarily to inland forests in response to disturbance.

Sumber: Pteropodidae

Movements, Home range and Social organization. The Black-eared Flying Fox is generally gregarious and roosts colonially in tall, defoliated trees with low levels of disturbance. It occurs in sympatry with the Nicobar Flying Fox (P. faunulus), and both have been captured in fruit plantations. In areas close to human settlements, colonies have fewer than 200 individuals, but in areas further from human settlements, colonies can have more than 2000 individuals.

Sumber: Pteropodidae

Status and Conservation. CITES Appendix II. Classified as Vulnerable on The IUCN Red List. Population declines of Black-eared Flying Foxes of more than 30 % are suspected during the next three generations because of habitat loss, hunting, and possibly introduced predators. Continual rises in global sea levels will likely result in loss of essential roosting habitat. On Andaman and Nicobar islands, some hunting occurs near human settlements. Hunters commonly use air guns and catapults. On Nias and Enggano (Indonesia), some hunting occurs. Black-eared Flying Foxes supposedly have medicinal value. Severe weather events have destroyed important mangrove roosts and have forced some colonies to move to inland forests. The Christmas Island subspecies (natalis), which might be a full species after additional taxonomic review, would likely be assessed as Critically Endangered, given population decline of 83 % in three generations, with current estimates of ¢. 2000 individuals remaining. Habitat loss, severe weather events, and negative effects of introduced carnivores, introduced yellow crazy ants (Anoplolepis gracilipes, Formicidae), insecticide poisoning, disease, and pollution have caused this decline. There have been efforts to reduce feral cat numbers and changes in methods of controlling yellow crazy ants. Captive breeding has been discussed for subspecies natalis.

Sumber: Pteropodidae

Descriptive notes. Tailless, ear 25 - 27 mm, hindfoot 37 - 5 - 52 mm, forearm 110 - 165 mm; weight 220 - 500 g. Greatest lengths of skulls are 72 - 75 - 5 mm and tibias 72 — 76 mm. Claw and tibia lengths of males are only slightly larger than those of females. Subspecies natalis is the smallest, and melanotus is the largest, suggesting largersize in northern subspecies. Fur is short and adpressed on back. Subspecies modiglianii, tytleri, and natalis are black, with sprinklings of white hairs on belly and mantle; other subspecies have dark brown back and rump, with a few whitish hairs, but mid-chest and belly vary from ocherous buffy to deep tawny, with rufous in areas of body where it meets darker color. Subspecies modiglianii and natalis are longer haired. Head and crown are dark brown to blackish, contrasting with tawny to rufous mantle. Ears are broad and narrowly rounded off at tips. Wing membranes of all subspecies are dark brown and arise near sides of spine. Index claw is present. Tibia is naked. Skull has well-developed postorbital process and temporal ridges fused to form a well-developed sagittal crest. Orbits are rather large. Coronoid is moderate and somewhat sloping. Palate ridges: 5 + 5 + 3. Teeth of smaller subspecies do not decrease in size as skulls decrease in size. Cingulum of C' is narrow, and posterior basal ledge of P ° is short. P' is minute and sometimes missing in adults. Posterior ledge of P, is moderate and short in P ,, making both separate posteroexternally from main cusp. Dentition of natalis is slightly different: canine is heavier at base and more recurved, with broad cingulum and slight groove on front face of tooth; P' is larger than in other subspecies; and M * and M, are reduced. Posterior basal ledges of P * and P, are present but shorter.

Sumber: Pteropodidae

Conservation: CITES – Appendix II. IUCN / SSC Action Plan (1992) – Not Threatened. IUCN 2003 – Lower Risk (lc).

Sumber: Order Chiroptera - Family Pteropodidae