Greater flying fox, Bismarck flying fox
The great flying fox (Pteropus neohibernicus ), also known as the greater flying fox or Bismarck flying fox, is a species of megabat in the genus Pteropus, found throughout lowland areas of New Guinea and in the Bismarck Archipelago. Conflicting evidence suggests that its closest relative is either the spectacled flying fox or, jointly, the Pelew and insular flying foxes. Two subspecies are recognized. At up to 1.6 kg (3.5 lb) in weight, it is among the heaviest bats in the world and the largest bat in Melanesia. It is a gregarious animal which roosts with hundreds or thousands of individuals. In part due to its wide variation in color, it has many taxonomic synonyms, including Pteropus degener, Pteropus papuanus, and Pteropus sepikensis. It may forage during the day or night in search of fruit, including figs or fruits from the family Sapotaceae. It is considered a least-concern species by the IUCN, though its numbers have been negatively impacted by what appeared to be a disease, as well as by hunting for bushmeat that occurs across its range.
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NocturnalNocturnality is an animal behavior characterized by being active during the night and sleeping during the day. The common adjective is "nocturnal",...
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FrugivoreA frugivore is an animal that thrives mostly on raw fruits or succulent fruit-like produce of plants such as roots, shoots, nuts, and seeds. Approx...
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HerbivoreA herbivore is an animal anatomically and physiologically adapted to eating plant material, for example, foliage, for the main component of its die...
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TerrestrialTerrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land (e.g., cats, ants, snails), as compared with aquatic animals, which liv...
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CongregatoryCongregatory animals tend to gather in large numbers in specific areas as breeding colonies, for feeding, or for resting.
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ViviparousAmong animals, viviparity is the development of the embryo inside the body of the parent. The term 'viviparity' and its adjective form 'viviparous'...
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ArborealArboreal locomotion is the locomotion of animals in trees. In habitats in which trees are present, animals have evolved to move in them. Some anima...
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Highly socialHighly social animals are those which are highly interactive with other members of their species. They live in large groups, nest in colonies, and ...
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ColonialColonial animals live in large aggregations composed of two or more conspecific individuals in close association with or connected to, one another....
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Not a migrantAnimals that do not make seasonal movements and stay in their native home ranges all year round are called not migrants or residents.
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starts withThe Great flying fox is among the heaviest bats in the world and the largest bat in Melanesia. The color of its fur is variable, though often golden brown, with the fur of its back usually sparse or absent. The back fur that is present is russet brown, though may be dark or pale brown. The russet brown fur is interspersed with a variable sprinkling of buff-colored (brownish-yellow) hairs. Its fur is typically darkest on the sides of its back and rump, as well as on the upper side of its thighs. Fur is lightest in color at the center of its back and rump. The Great flying fox has a mantle or fur of contrasting color on the sides and back of its neck. The mantle is usually yellowish, with the top of the head darker than the mantle. The darker brown color on the top of its head often extends down the sides of the head and between the eyes, sometimes resembling an indistinct "T"-shape.
Great flying foxes are found only in the southwest Pacific islands of New Guinea, the Bismarck Archipelago, and the Raja Ampat Islands, which are part of Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. Their range includes several very small islands such as Karkar Island and Sakar Island. Great flying foxes live in tropical dry and moist forests, savanna habitats, swamp forests, and mangroves. They also occur in riparian areas and rural gardens.
Great flying foxes are highly social and form colonies consisting of several thousand individuals. During the day, they roost on the tops of tall trees, often along the coast, and may also roost in trees located near human settlements. Great flying foxes are nocturnal and forage at night, however, they sometimes feed during the day, and may skim the sea to pluck fruits that are floating on the surface.
Great flying foxes are herbivores (frugivores) feeding on fruits, figs, and flowering plants.
Little information is known about the mating system and reproductive behavior of Great flying foxes. Females of this species give birth to a single pup at a time. Near Fulleborn, Papua New Guinea, it is thought that females give birth in early December. In the Bismarck Archipelago, females with half-grown young have been seen in June.
Great flying foxes are not considered a threatened species but they suffer from habitat loss, hunting for food, and diseases.
The IUCN Red List and other sources don’t provide the number of the Great flying fox total population size. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List and its numbers today are stable.
Great flying foxes play a very important role in the ecosystem they live in. They spread seeds and pollen of various plants during their foraging trips every night.
