Christmas Island Flying Fox

Christmas island s only native mammal the christmas island flying fox hangs out in large groups called camps which can be several hundred members strong.

Christmas island flying fox. The christmas island flying fox or christmas island fruit bat as the name suggests is a flying fox endemic to christmas island it is unclear if it should be considered a distinct species pteropus natalis or a subspecies of the black eared flying fox p. Christmas island flying foxes roost in rainforest trees in camps of up to several hundred. The christmas island flying fox is the last remaining endemic mammal persisting on christmas island. Monitoring in 2012 suggested that it had declined by approximately 35 over the preceding six years although more recent.

A population on christmas island which is critically endangered has been placed as a subspecies of this population the conservation and taxonomic status of that population. However the island has experienced recent extinctions and more species are under threat. They are important pollinators on the island feeding on the fruits and flowers of dozens of plant species including the japanese cherry muntingia calabura and tropical almond terminalia. The christmas island flying fox is an endemic bat to christmas island.

The christmas island flying fox is the island s sole surviving endemic mammal species with the other four now considered extinct. Christmas island flying foxes are vulnerable to loss of feeding and roosting habitat. Roughly a quarter of the species habitat has been lost since the late 1880s due to mining and other developments. A christmas island flying fox.

A subspecies of the black eared flying fox the critically endangered christmas island flying fox is the island s only remaining native mammal. Christmas island flying foxes eat the fruit and blossom of rainforest trees including the flowers of coconut palms. These bats can weigh up to 500 grams. The flying fox is critically endangered under australian environmental law the epbc act.

Surveys suggest the species has declined by approximately 35 over the last 6 years. Melanotus natalis it may descend from a population of island flying foxes from pulau panjang near java. Jon paul emery why is the research needed. Also known as blyth s flying fox it is found on the andaman islands and nicobar islands india and in sumatra.

Christmas island flying foxes live in the rainforest. The black eared flying fox species pteropus melanotus is a bat of the family pteropodidae megabats. Christmas island is rich in unique biodiversity.