How tall is a pemba flying fox

Although they weigh just over a pound, their wings can span over 5. They live in large social colonies of up to individuals. The Pemba Flying Fox is in the minority of bat species with great eyesight, which eliminates the need to use echolocation to navigate where they are going. And contrary to what one might assume, these bats roost during broad daylight in trees instead of in caves. Their diet consists mainly of fruit such as figs, breadfruit, and mangos, as well as nectar, pollen, flowers, and leaves.

They are an important species for seed dispersal because they carry fruit and plant seeds in their digestive system to other parts of the island. In the early s the total population was critically endangered with only a few hundred individuals left at most.

Apparently as a result of a range of conservation activities, the population had increased to by Entwistle As long as some patches of natural forest remained and traditional hunting methods were used, the Pemba flying fox seemed to have survived in reasonable numbers.

However, the last fragments of natural forest are now in danger of disappearing Seehausen Habitat loss from deforestation is thus a major concern. Bats are hunted only for subsistence purposes and probably provide an important source of protein to local people , but not for commercial purposes. They seldom have access to shotguns, but where hunting with shotguns is practiced, it has reportedly had a major impact on the Pemba flying fox.

Although villagers believe that fruit is damaged by the bats, there is no evidence that the villagers have persecuted the bats as pests. The young of flying foxes become independent at 3 - 6 months Bonaccorso Altringham , Anon. Top of Page Search This Site. Endangered animals of the world. Contact Us.. References Profile The Pemba flying fox is a large fruit bat weighing - g 0.

Population Estimates: [Note: Figures given are for wild populations only. Threats and Reasons for Decline: As long as some patches of natural forest remained and traditional hunting methods were used, the Pemba flying fox seemed to have survived in reasonable numbers. Pemba flying foxes also rely heavily on their sense of smell. With large olfactory bulbs to process scents, they smell to locate food, find their young, and for mating. Offspring are born between June and August and become independent several months later.

The decline of the Pemba flying foxes in the s coincided with the popularity of the shotgun. Pemba flying foxes were considered a delicacy and previous hunting methods were more sustainable. Today, the island polls with nearly percent of locals expressing support for their continued conservation.