Pteropus nitendiensis, Sanborn, 1930

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2019, Pteropodidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 16-162 : 151

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.6448815

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6788914

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03AD87FA-FF99-F677-8C66-37ECF77EF5EA

treatment provided by

Conny

scientific name

Pteropus nitendiensis
status

 

168. View Plate 10: Pteropodidae

Temotu Flying Fox

Pteropus nitendiensis View in CoL

French: Roussette de Nendo / German: Temotu-Flughund / Spanish: Zorro volador de la Isla de Ndeni

Other common names: Makira Flying Fox

Taxonomy. Pteropus nitendiensis Sanborn, 1930 View in CoL ,

“Santa Cruz or Nitendi [= Nendo, Ndeni, or Ndende] Island, Santa Cruz Islands,” Solomon Islands.

Pteropus nitendiensis is in the samoensis species group. Monotypic.

Distribution. Temotu (Santa Cruz) Is (Tinakula, Tomotu Neo, and Nendo). View Figure

Descriptive notes. Head-body 171- 175 mm (tailless), ear 18-20 mm, forearm 116-121 mm; weight 210-320 g. Muzzle is narrowed and dark gray, and rhinarium is black, with short tubular nostrils. Eyes are large, with dark brown irises. Ears are above fur and smoothly rounded. Pelage is overall buff golden brown; males darker than females. Crown is warm buff, bases of hairs are gray, and sides of face and throat have grayish tinge, darker than mantle. Mantle and neck tufts are yellowish light brown, lightened by golden or russettips, barely contrasting with back. Hairs of back and rump are bicolored, with cream-buff tips darkened by light seal-brown bases. Tibia is dorsally furred, and hairs are close to yellowish light brown. Chest and belly are grizzled golden brown. Wing membranes are black. Skull is typical pteropine, but stout rostrum is broad and short; zygomatic arches are wide; postorbital processes are long; postorbital constriction is strong; and interorbital region is depressed. Dentition is heavy; C! is strong, without additional cusp; and lower cheekteeth have strong posterior ledge.

Habitat. [.owland primary and secondary forests and agroforests.

Food and Feeding. The Temotu Flying Fox will visit village gardens to feed on fruit trees including green coconuts ( Cocos nucifera, Arecaceae ), mango ( Mangifera indica , Anacardiaceae ), breadfruit tree ( Artocarpus altilis, Moraceae ), Syzygium spp. (Myrtaceae) , Panama berry ( Muntingia calabura, Muntingiaceae ), and pawpaw ( Asimina triloba , Annonaceae ).

Breeding. One Temotu Flying Fox was pregnant in September.

Activity patterns. The Temotu Flying Fox is active in late afternoon and at night. It roosts in fruit trees (e.g. breadfruit tree).

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Temotu Flying Foxes roost alone Or In pairs.

Status and Conservation. CITES Appendix II. Classified as Endangered on The IUCN Red List. Extent of occurrence of the Temotu Flying Fox is small (less than 5000 km?), and there is continuing decline in extent and quality ofits forest habitat. Hunting is probably a threat.

Bibliography. Leary, Hamilton & James (2008a), Pierce (2014), Sanborn (1930).

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Mammalia

Order

Chiroptera

Family

Pteropodidae

Genus

Pteropus

Loc

Pteropus nitendiensis

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier 2019
2019
Loc

Pteropus nitendiensis

Sanborn 1930
1930
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