Pteropus aldabrensis, True, 1893

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2019, Pteropodidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 16-162 : 159

183.

Aldabra Flying Fox

Pteropus aldabrensis

French: Roussette d'Aldabra / German: Aldabra-Flughund / Spanish: Zorro volador de Aldabra

Taxonomy. Pteropus aldabrensis True, 1893 ,

“Aldabra Island,” Seychelle Islands.

Pteropus aldabrensis is in the vampyrus group. It is a valid species following W. Bergmans in 1991 but often included in seychellensis Or even In a superspecies comprising most Indian Ocean Pteropus . Monotypic.

Distribution. Seychelles Is (Aldabra Atoll).

Descriptive notes. Head-body 184-— 189 mm (tailless), ear 24-28 mm, hindfoot 43 mm, forearm 128-141 mm; weight 257-395 g. Snout of the Aldabra Flying Fox is grayish brown; head is primarily bright yellowish ocher; two small eyebrow dark spots (for superciliary vibrissae) occur between eyes; eyes are large, with dark brown irises; and ears are dark, relatively large, and pointed. Chin and throat are dark brown; cheeks are pale yellow, with scattered whitish hairs; crown, occiput, and area between eyes and temporal region have bright ocherous yellowish fur. Mantle is orange-buff, tinted with ocherous-rufous color, ending posteriorly in transverse band of ocherous buff, shading to deep orange-brown on sides of neck and fore neck. Back is greenish gray-brown, sprinkled with silvery grayish white hairs, especially along wing membranes; hairs are bicolored, with pale grayish bases and light gray-brown to wood-brown and exceptionally blackish tips; mid-dorsal hairs are 21 mm long; hairs on forearm are mars-brown; tibia is furred on proximal one-half and sparsely haired on distal one-half. Chest and belly are ocherous brown, with hints of buffy yellow; flanks are similar or slightly paler; and hair bases are grayish seal-brown, and tips are orange-brown. Genitals are contrastingly dark. Wings are blackish dark brown, with claw on second digit. Skull is relatively small and gracile but otherwise typical pteropine. Dentition is typical pteropine.

Habitat. Dry scrub and dry woodlands.

Food and Feeding. Diet of the Aldabra Flying Fox includes fruits of Calophyllum (Calophyllaceae) , Mystroxylon (Celastraceae) , Terminalia (Combretaceae) , and Ficus (Moraceae) ; flowers of Agave (Asparagaceae) and Cocos (Arecaceae) ; and foliage of Avicennia (Acanthaceae) . Coccoids (Icerya seychellarum) are licked from leaves of infested Ficus trees, probably to supplement diet with honeydew produced by the insects.

Breeding. Mating of the Aldabra Flying Fox is observed in March,June, and October— November, but females with young have only been reported in December—January.

Activity patterns. The Aldabra Flying Fox spends the day roosting in coconut palms and trees and leaves to feed at dusk. Roosts have been found in Casuarina (Casuarinaceae) trees, mangrove stands, and coconut and coco plantations.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. The Aldabra Flying Fox apparently roosts scattered among trees or palms. It flies between major islands of the atoll.

Status and Conservation. CITES Appendix II. Classified as Vulnerable on The IUCN Red List. The Aldabra Flying Fox occurs in one locality of ¢. 150 km * and faces threats from climate change resulting in rising sea levels (60% of atoll is less than 1 m above sea level) and increased risk of cyclones. The Aldabra Atoll is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a reserve under the Seychelles National Parks and Nature Conservancy Act.

Bibliography. Almeida et al. (2014), Andersen (1912b), Bergmans (1991), von Brandis (2004), Hill (1971a), Hutson (2004), Mickleburgh, Hutson, Bergmans, Howell & Gerlach (2008), O'Brien et al. (2009), Roberts & Seabrook (1989), True (1893).

Figures

174. Livingstone’s Flying Fox (Pteropus livingstonii), 175. Pemba Flying Fox (Pleropus voeltzkowi), 176. Ryukyu Flying Fox (Pleropus dasymallus), 177. Bonin Flying Fox (Pteropus pselaphon), 178. Little Golden-mantled Flying Fox (Pleropus pumilus), 179. Lyle’s Flying Fox (Pteropus lylei), 180. Indian Flying Fox (Pleropus medius), 181. Rodrigues Flying Fox (Pteropus rodricensus), 182. Large Flying Fox (Pteropus vampyrus), 183. Aldabra Flying Fox (Pleropus aldabrensis), 184. Malagasy Flying Fox (Pteropus rufus), 185. Seychelles Flying Fox (Pleropus seychellensis), 186. Greater Mascarene Flying Fox (Pteropus niger), 187. Aru Flying Fox (Pteropus aruensis), 188. Kai Flying Fox (Pleropus keyensis), 189. Black-bearded Flying Fox (Pleropus melanopogon), 190. South Moluccan Flying Fox (Pteropus chrysoproctus), 191. North Moluccan Flying Fox (Pteropus caniceps)

Distribution. Seychelles Is (Aldabra Atoll).