Rennell flying fox
Species of bat
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Rennell flying fox (Pteropus rennelli) is a species of flying fox found in the Solomon Islands. It is an endangered species risking extinction.
| Rennell flying fox | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Infraclass: | Placentalia |
| Order: | Chiroptera |
| Family: | Pteropodidae |
| Genus: | Pteropus |
| Species: | P. rennelli |
| Binomial name | |
| Pteropus rennelli Troughton, 1929. | |
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| Rennell flying fox range | |
| Synonyms | |
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Taxonomy and etymology
It was described as a new species in 1929 by Australian mammalogist Ellis Le Geyt Troughton.[2] As the genus Pteropus is speciose, it is divided into closely related species groups. The Rennell flying fox is in the "samoensis" species group.[3] Its species name "rennelli" comes from Rennell Island, which is part of the Solomon Islands.[4] Rennell Island was where the holotype was collected, and remains the only known location of this species.[1][2] In 1962, Hill published that he considered Rennell's flying fox as a subspecies of the Solomons flying fox, with a trinomen of Pteropus rayneri rennelli.[5]
Description
The forearm of the holotype was 121 mm (4.8 in) long. The fur of its back is uniformly brownish, with the fur of its neck and face lighter.[2]
Biology
Females give birth to one offspring per litter, with the young called a "pup." Its lifespan is estimated at eight to nine years. It is nocturnal, roosting in sheltered places such as trees during the day. Individuals roost by themselves.[1]
Range and habitat
It is only known from Rennell Island, which is part of the Solomon Islands.[1]
Conservation
The holotype was the only known individual of these species until 1958, when two more were collected.[5] It is currently listed as an endangered species by the IUCN; its 2017 assessment uplisted it from its 2008 status of vulnerable.[1] A 2016 study stated that the Rennell's flying fox is one of the land mammals most threatened by overhunting.[6] Because the species has such a small range, it is susceptible to extinction via natural disaster; a single cyclone could conceivably extinct this species.[1]