Spectacled Flying-fox
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| Pteropus conspicillatus Gould, 1850 |
The Spectacled Flying-fox, Pteropus conspicillatus also known as the Spectacled Fruit Bat, lives in Australia's north-eastern west regions of Queensland. It is also found in New Guinea and on the offshore islands including Woodlark Island, Alcester Island, Kiriwina, and Halmahera.
The Spectacled Flying-fox was listed as a threatened species under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act of 1999. They are considered vulnerable due to a significant decline in numbers as a result of loss of their prime feeding habitat and secluded camp sites.
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[edit] Physical Characteristics
The head and body length is 22–25 cm, forearm 16–18 cm, weight 400–600 g. A large black flying fox has pale yellow or straw-colored fur around its eyes. The mantle is pale yellow and goes across the back, neck, and shoulders. Some specimens have been found to have pale yellow fur on the face and top of the head.
[edit] Habitat
Spectacled Flying-foxes are forest dwellers so rainforests are its preferred habitat. They prefer to roost in the upper canopies of rainforest. Most roost trees are sheoaks, but these bats have also been known to roost in the upper branches of broadleaf trees for protection from hunters. They have also been observed stripping the upper leaves from trees. This behavior allows better visual observation of the surrounding area. Colonies of the Spectacled Flying-fox can also be found in mangroves, paperbark and eucalypt forests. No colony is known to be found more than 7 km from a rainforest.
[edit] Diet
The Spectacled Flying-fox feeds at night on several different species of fruits, blossoms and foliage, as well as the occasional insect. It often feeds on nectar and pollen from blossoms and fruits of forest trees and palms. It also likes to eat citrus fruits and mangoes. The foraging distance for these bats is about 50 km. As with many of the flying foxes, this species drinks seawater on the way to feeding sites.
[edit] Gallery
 Spectacled Flying-fox mother with baby |
 Spectacled Flying-fox baby, at the Tolga Bat Hospital |
 Distribution of P. conspicillatus |
[edit] References
- Birt, P., Markus, N., Collins, L. & Hall, L. (1998) Nature Australia, Spring, pp. 55-59.
- Churchill, S. (1998) Australian Bats, Reed New Holland, Sydney, pp. 84-85.
- Hall, L. (1983) Spectacled flying fox. In R. Strahan (ed.). The Mammals of Australia, Reed Books, Chatswood, p. 282.
