Pteropus voeltzkowi (Matschie, 1909)

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2019, Pteropodidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 16-162 : 155

175.

Pemba Flying Fox

Pteropus voeltzkowi

French: Roussette de Pemba / German: Pemba-Flughund / Spanish: Zorro volador de Pemba

Taxonomy. Pteropus (Spectrum) voeltzkowi Matschie, 1909,

Fufuni, southern Pemba Island, Tanzania.

Pteropus voeltzkowr 1s in the lvingstonii species group. Monotypic.

Distribution. Pemba 1 (off the coast of Tanzania).

Descriptive notes. Head-body 220- 265 mm (tailless), ear 20-30 mm, hindfoot 43-47 mm, forearm 145-163 mm; weight 430-610 g. Males are slightly larger and darker red than females. Head of the Pemba Flying Fox is fox-like; face is uniform brown, without dark facemask; muzzle is long and tapering; eyes are moderately large, with chestnut-brown irises; and ears are pointed, naked, and blackish brown. Crown is dark brown to rusty brown, and some gray hairs can be present; nape has longer, coarser, and rusty red or rusty orange hairs, forming reddish mantle, extended as a collar; back is black, blackish brown, or dark reddish brown; hairs are rusty red or blackish brown, with some of them pale gray or rusty brown; pelage is dense and 15 mm long mid-dorsally. Chestis dark golden brown, abdomen and flanks are lighter golden brown, and chin and throat and dark brown. Exceptionally, ventral pelage is darker or rusty brown at center and lighter on flanks. Wings are very dark brown and attach to second toe, and tibia and forearm are naked. Index claw is present. Skull is long and robust; rostrum is of medium length. There are 13 palatal ridges; ridges 1-5 are undivided; ridges 6-10 are divided; and ridges are 11-13 post-dental. Dentition is typical pteropine.

Habitat. Primary and secondary (moist) forests, undisturbed traditional graveyards and mangroves, and small offshore islands from sea level only up to elevations of c. 45m.

Food and Feeding. The Pemba Flying Fox is strongly frugivorous; mangoes ( Mangifera indica , Anacardiaceae ) form the major part ofits diet. Fruit, flowers, and leaves from at least 16 genera in twelve families are eaten. It seems to prefer cultivated fruits.

Breeding. Births of Pemba Flying Foxes occur in June-August, with young recorded in August—October; assuming gestation of 4-6 months, mating takes place in January—April.

Activity patterns. The Pemba Flying Fox forages at night. Roosts can be found in tall trees such as M. indica , with a preference for Erythrophleum suaveolens ( Fabaceae ).

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Pemba Flying Foxes roost alone or in mixed-sex colonies of up to 5000 individuals.

Status and Conservation. CITES Appendix II. Classified as Vulnerable on The [UCN Red List. The Pemba Flying Fox was downgraded from Critically Endangered (1996) because population grew from ¢.3000 individuals in 1992 to a current estimate of more than 22,000 individuals in 44 known roosts. Current classification is due to its restricted distribution (Pemba Island), continued hunting, disturbance of roostsites, and conflicts with local fruit growers. It is most common on western side of Pemba and occurs in protected areas (e.g. Ngezi Forest Reserve and Msitu Kuu Forest). A captive breeding program was established at the Phoenix Zoo ( USA).

Bibliography. Almeida et al. (2014), Andersen (1912b), Carroll & Feistner (1996), Entwistle & Corp (19973, 1997b), Entwistle & Juma (2016), Happold & Happold (2013), Mickleburgh et al. (1992), O'Brien et al. (2009), Seehausen (1990).

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. Pemba 1 (off the coast of Tanzania ).