Rennell flying fox | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Chiroptera |
Family: | Pteropodidae |
Genus: | Pteropus |
Species: | P. rennelli
|
Binomial name | |
Pteropus rennelli
Troughton, 1929.
| |
Rennell flying fox range | |
Synonyms | |
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The Rennell flying fox (Pteropus rennelli) is a species of flying fox found in the Solomon Islands. It is an endangered species risking extinction.
It was described as a new species in 1929 by Australian mammalogist Ellis Le Geyt Troughton. [2] As the genus Pteropus is speciose, it is divided into closely related species groups. The Rennell flying fox is in the "samoensis" species group. [3] Its species name "rennelli" comes from Rennell Island, which is part of the Solomon Islands. [4] Rennell Island was where the holotype was collected, and remains the only known location of this species. [1] [2] In 1962, Hill published that he considered Rennell's flying fox as a subspecies of the Solomons flying fox, with a trinomen of Pteropus rayneri rennelli. [5]
The forearm of the holotype was 121 mm (4.8 in) long. The fur of its back is uniformly brownish, with the fur of its neck and face lighter. [2]
Females give birth to one offspring per litter, with the young called a "pup." Its lifespan is estimated at eight to nine years. It is nocturnal, roosting in sheltered places such as trees during the day. Individuals roost by themselves. [1]
It is only known from Rennell Island, which is part of the Solomon Islands. [1]
The holotype was the only known individual of these species until 1958, when two more were collected. [5] It is currently listed as an endangered species by the IUCN; its 2017 assessment uplisted it from its 2008 status of vulnerable. [1] A 2016 study stated that the Rennell's flying fox is one of the land mammals most threatened by overhunting. [6] Because the species has such a small range, it is susceptible to extinction via natural disaster; a single cyclone could conceivably extinct this species. [1]
Rennell flying fox | |
---|---|
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Chiroptera |
Family: | Pteropodidae |
Genus: | Pteropus |
Species: | P. rennelli
|
Binomial name | |
Pteropus rennelli
Troughton, 1929.
| |
Rennell flying fox range | |
Synonyms | |
|
The Rennell flying fox (Pteropus rennelli) is a species of flying fox found in the Solomon Islands. It is an endangered species risking extinction.
It was described as a new species in 1929 by Australian mammalogist Ellis Le Geyt Troughton. [2] As the genus Pteropus is speciose, it is divided into closely related species groups. The Rennell flying fox is in the "samoensis" species group. [3] Its species name "rennelli" comes from Rennell Island, which is part of the Solomon Islands. [4] Rennell Island was where the holotype was collected, and remains the only known location of this species. [1] [2] In 1962, Hill published that he considered Rennell's flying fox as a subspecies of the Solomons flying fox, with a trinomen of Pteropus rayneri rennelli. [5]
The forearm of the holotype was 121 mm (4.8 in) long. The fur of its back is uniformly brownish, with the fur of its neck and face lighter. [2]
Females give birth to one offspring per litter, with the young called a "pup." Its lifespan is estimated at eight to nine years. It is nocturnal, roosting in sheltered places such as trees during the day. Individuals roost by themselves. [1]
It is only known from Rennell Island, which is part of the Solomon Islands. [1]
The holotype was the only known individual of these species until 1958, when two more were collected. [5] It is currently listed as an endangered species by the IUCN; its 2017 assessment uplisted it from its 2008 status of vulnerable. [1] A 2016 study stated that the Rennell's flying fox is one of the land mammals most threatened by overhunting. [6] Because the species has such a small range, it is susceptible to extinction via natural disaster; a single cyclone could conceivably extinct this species. [1]