Animal Info - Ryukyu Flying Fox

(Other Names: Zorro Volador de Ryukyu)

Pteropus dasymallus

Status: Endangered

1. Profile (Picture)
2. Tidbits
3. Status and Trends (IUCN Status, Countries Where Currently Found, History of Distribution, Threats and Reasons for Decline)
4. Data on Biology and Ecology (Habitat, Gestation Period, Birth Season, Early Development, Diet, Behavior, Social Organization)
5. References

Profile

Picture: Ryukyu Flying Fox (6 Kb JPEG)

The Ryukyu flying fox utilizes forest for daytime roosting. It eats the fruits of a variety of plant species. Figs are a favorite. It lives in colonies.

The Ryukyu flying fox occurs in the Ryukyu Archipelago (Japan). It previously occurred in Taiwan. It is abundant in the southern and central parts of Okinawa. Populations appear to be large on Ishigaki, Iriomote and Yonayuki. (WCMC/WWF 1997)

Threats apparently include hunting and deforestation on different islands.

Tidbits

*** Flying foxes are so-called because of their fox-like faces. They cannot use echolocation. Instead, they navigate using vision and normal hearing.

*** Most flying foxes eat fruit and are also called fruit bats. Fruit bats are ecologically and economically important because they pollinate and disperse the seeds of wild and commercial plants.

*** The Ryukyu flying fox can be a pest of commercial fruit crops.

Status and Trends

IUCN Status:

1994: Endangered
1996 - 2004: Endangered (Criteria: A1ce) (Population Trend: Decreasing) (IUCN 2004)

Countries Where the Ryukyu Flying Fox Is Currently Found:

2004: Occurs in Japan (Ryukyu Islands: Nansei-shoto). (IUCN 2004)

History of Distribution:

The Ryukyu flying fox occurs in the Ryukyu Archipelago (Japan). It previously occurred in Taiwan, most recently on the island of Kashoto (= Lutao) (Mickleburgh 1992). It is abundant in the southern and central parts of Okinawa. Populations appear to be large on Ishigaki, Iriomote and Yonayuki. (WCMC/WWF 1997)

Threats and Reasons for Decline:

Threats apparently include hunting and deforestation on different islands.

Data on Biology and Ecology

Habitat:

The Ryukyu flying fox utilizes forest for daytime roosting.

The Ryukyu flying fox lives in both the Japan and the Philippines Biodiversity Hotspots (Cons. Intl. 2005).

Gestation Period:

The gestation period of flying foxes is 4 - 5 months (Bonaccorso 1998).

Birth Season:

1 birth of a captive animal in May has been recorded.

Early Development:

The young of flying foxes become independent at 3 - 6 months (Bonaccorso 1998).

Diet:

The Ryukyu flying fox eats the fruits of a variety of plant species. Figs are a favorite.

Behavior:

Flying foxes roost in tree tops and often actively remove foliage from roost trees (Bonaccorso 1998).

Social Organization:

The Ryukyu flying fox lives in colonies.

References

Bonaccorso 1998, Cons. Intl. 2005, IUCN 1994, IUCN 1996, IUCN 2000, IUCN 2003a, IUCN 2004, Mickleburgh 1992, WCMC/WWF 1997

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Last modified: May 30, 2005;