PTEROPUS (FLYING FOX)

Contents hide

1) Classification of Pteropus (Flying Fox)

2) Geographical distribution

3) Habit and habitat

4) General Characteristics of Pteropus (Flying Fox)

5) Ecological Importance of Pteropus

6) Conservation Status of Pteropus

7) Special Features

8) Identification

Classification of Pteropus (Flying Fox)

Phylum :- Chordata (Dorsal tubular nerve cord, notochord and gill-slits present.)
Group :- Craniata (Definite head, Cranium with brain present.)
Sub phylum :- Vertebrata (Vertebral column present.)
Division :- Gnathostomata (Jaws and paired appendages present.)
Super Class :- Tetrapoda (Paired limbs, lungs, cornified skin and bony skeleton.)
Class :- Mammalia (Body covered with hairs. Females have mammary glands.)
Sub Class :- Theria (Viviparous mammals.)
Infra Class :- Eutheria (Placental mammals. Vagina single.)
Order :- Chiroptera (Flying mammals.)
Sub-Order :- Megachiroptera (Hanging downwards with folding wings.)
Genus :- Pteropus

Geographical distribution

Found in South Eastern Asia, especially in India. Pliocene to Recent.

Habit and habitat

Adapted for arboreal and aerial mode of life. Live in groups and feed on fruits (fruigivorous) and often damage orchards. They sleep by day on tree branches.

General Characteristics of Pteropus (Flying Fox)

Commonly called Fruit bat or Flying fox.
Body is dark-brown coloured and shoulders are golden yellow.
Body divisible into head, neck, trunk and tail and patagium.It is capable of true flight. The forelimbs are modified into wings.
Each wing formed by a fold of skin or patagium supported by elongated forelimb and 2nd to 5th fingers. Only 1st and 2nd fingers bear claws. Hind limbs and tail also included in patagium. Before patagium is prepatagium.
Hind feet small with sharp and curved claws. Tail small and stumpy. Head small having small external ears, large eyes, snout and small teeth.
During sleep, head hangs downwards with wings folded clock-like around body.

The genus Pteropus, commonly known as flying foxes or fruit bats, comprises large fruit-eating bats found in tropical and subtropical regions, particularly in South and Southeast Asia, Australia, and the Pacific islands. These bats are vital to the health and functioning of ecosystems, but they face significant conservation challenges.

Ecological Importance of Pteropus

Pollination
- Flying foxes are key pollinators for a variety of plants, including economically important species such as bananas, mangoes, and durians. Their ability to travel long distances makes them effective at transferring pollen between widely dispersed trees, promoting genetic diversity in plants.
Seed Dispersal
- By consuming fruits and excreting or dropping seeds far from the parent tree, Pteropus species contribute significantly to forest regeneration and the maintenance of plant diversity. They are especially important for large-seeded plants that depend on animals for dispersal.
Ecosystem Engineers
- Flying foxes help maintain the structure and dynamics of tropical forests by aiding in plant reproduction and distribution. This, in turn, supports the survival of other species that depend on these forests for habitat.
Nutrient Cycling
- Their foraging and defecation habits contribute to nutrient cycling in ecosystems. Droppings enrich soil fertility, supporting plant growth and improving the health of the ecosystem.
Food Web Dynamics
- Flying foxes serve as prey for larger predators such as raptors and snakes, forming a crucial link in the food web.
Indicator Species
- Being highly sensitive to habitat loss and environmental changes, flying foxes act as indicators of ecosystem health. Their population dynamics often reflect the status of tropical forest ecosystems.

Conservation Status of Pteropus

The conservation status of Pteropus species varies, but many are under threat due to habitat destruction, hunting, and other human activities.

Key Threats
- Habitat Loss: Deforestation and land conversion for agriculture, logging, and urbanization have significantly reduced their habitats.
- Hunting and Poaching: Flying foxes are hunted for their meat and perceived as pests in orchards, leading to population declines.
- Climate Change: Extreme weather events, such as heatwaves, can cause mass mortality in flying fox colonies.
- Disease Outbreaks: They are often misunderstood as reservoirs for zoonotic diseases, leading to fear-driven culling.
- Persecution: Misconceptions about their role as crop pests result in conflicts with farmers and local communities.
IUCN Red List
- The conservation status of individual Pteropus species varies widely:
  - Some species, like the Large Flying Fox (Pteropus vampyrus), are listed as Near Threatened (NT).
  - Others, such as the Mauritius Fruit Bat (Pteropus niger), are classified as Endangered (EN) due to severe population declines.
  - Several island-specific species, like the Critically Endangered (CR) Pemba Flying Fox (Pteropus voeltzkowi), face imminent extinction due to their restricted range and habitat loss.
Conservation Efforts
- Habitat Protection: Protecting and restoring tropical forests is crucial for their survival.
- Legislation: Enforcing anti-hunting laws and regulating trade in bat species are essential steps.
- Community Awareness: Educating local communities about the ecological importance of flying foxes can reduce hunting and persecution.
- Research and Monitoring: Studying bat populations and their ecological roles helps inform conservation strategies.
- Sustainable Practices: Promoting fruit-growing techniques that minimize conflict between bats and farmers can reduce human-wildlife conflict.
International Protection
- Many Pteropus species are listed under the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), which emphasizes the importance of international cooperation in their conservation.

In Summary

Pteropus species are ecological keystones, essential for pollination, seed dispersal, and maintaining tropical forest ecosystems. Despite their ecological importance, many flying foxes face threats from habitat destruction, hunting, and climate change, leading to population declines. Protecting these species requires habitat conservation, community education, and stricter enforcement of laws to ensure their survival and the continued health of ecosystems they support.

Special Features

Bats are important due to five reasons :

They have phylogenetic significance with insectivores,
They are the only flying mammals
They are used for experimental purposes,
Faeces of bats are used as fertilizer
Bats have highly developed Sonar or Echoapparatus, a kind of radar. While flying they constantly send out ultrasonic sound waves consisting of periodic clicks, which strike on objects or wire and are reflected back to bat. Rate of click increases 50-150 seconds as the object is approached.
Ultrasonic sounds are produced from the vocal cords.