Vanikoro flying fox facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Vanikoro flying fox |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Pteropus
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| Species: |
tuberculatus
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| Vanikoro flying fox range | |
The Vanikoro flying fox (Pteropus tuberculatus), also known as the basapine, is a special type of bat. It belongs to the Pteropodidae family. This bat has only been found on the Vanikoro island group in the southern Solomon Islands. For a long time, people thought this bat had disappeared forever. Scientists only knew about it from a few bats collected before 1930. Surveys in the 1990s couldn't find any, so it was listed as extinct. But in late 2014, a new survey found them again! Now, scientists believe there are hundreds, maybe even thousands, of these bats.
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What Does It Look Like?
The Vanikoro flying fox is a small bat. It's about half the size of a Pacific flying fox. These bats have big heads and small ears. Their fur is dark brown, and their skin is a dark brown-black color.
How Does It Behave?
The Vanikoro flying fox usually likes to be alone. You might find it resting by itself, or sometimes with just one other bat. They like to rest in the middle parts of trees. They choose spots where the branches give them lots of cover. They also like to be close to where they can find food. These bats look for food during the day, usually until late afternoon.
What Does It Eat?
The Vanikoro flying fox eats flowers and sweet nectar. They especially like flowers from coconut trees and fan palm trees.
Saving the Vanikoro Flying Fox
Its Status
The IUCN Red List is a list that shows how much danger animals are in. In 1996, the Vanikoro flying fox was listed as "Vulnerable," meaning it was at risk. But by 2020, its status changed to "Endangered." This means it is in high danger of disappearing forever.
However, in 2014, a group called Heritage Expeditions found many of these bats. They were doing a survey of birds and bats in the Solomon Islands. Because it's so rare, the Alliance for Zero Extinction has named it a species that could soon disappear. In 2013, Bat Conservation International put this bat on its list of 35 top animals to protect worldwide. Scientists now think there are between a few hundred and a few thousand of these bats left.
Why Is It Important?
Bats in the genus Pteropus are very important for nature. They help spread seeds and pollinate plants. This is like what bees do! Because the Vanikoro flying fox eats coconut and fan palm flowers, it might be very important for helping these plants grow in its home.
What Are the Dangers?
The main island of Vanikoro had a lot of trees cut down between the 1920s and 1960s. New trees were not planted, which badly damaged the bats' home. Some trees have grown back since then. But in 2014, a company started cutting down trees again.
When their forest homes are lost, these bats sometimes go to coconut farms. People there might hurt them because they think the bats damage the fruit. Also, some people hunt these bats for food, which is another danger to them.
