Superregnum: Eukaryota
Cladus: Unikonta
Cladus: Opisthokonta
Cladus: Holozoa
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Megaclassis: Osteichthyes
Cladus: Sarcopterygii
Cladus: Rhipidistia
Cladus: Tetrapodomorpha
Cladus: Eotetrapodiformes
Cladus: Elpistostegalia
Superclassis: Tetrapoda
Cladus: Reptiliomorpha
Cladus: Amniota
Cladus: Synapsida
Cladus: Eupelycosauria
Cladus: Sphenacodontia
Cladus: Sphenacodontoidea
Cladus: Therapsida
Cladus: Theriodontia
Cladus: Cynodontia
Cladus: Eucynodontia
Cladus: Probainognathia
Cladus: Prozostrodontia
Cladus: Mammaliaformes
Classis: Mammalia
Subclassis: Trechnotheria
Infraclassis: Zatheria
Supercohors: Theria
Cohors: Eutheria
Infraclassis: Placentalia
Cladus: Boreoeutheria
Superordo: Laurasiatheria
Cladus: Scrotifera
Ordo: Chiroptera
Subordo: Yinpterochiroptera
Familia: Pteropodidae
Subfamilia: Pteropodinae
Tribus: Pteropodini
Genus: Pteropus
Species: Pteropus melanotus
Subspecies: P. m. melanotus – P. m. modiglianii – P. m. natalis – P. m. niadicus – P. m. tytleri
Name
Pteropus melanotus Blyth, 1863
Type locality: India, Nicobar Islands.
References
Blyth. 1863. Cat. Mamm. Museum of the Asiatic Soc. Calcutta: 20.
Conservation status: IUCN Red List
Distribution
Nicobar and Andaman Islands (India)
Engano Isl and Nias Island (Indonesia)
Christmas Island
Vernacular names
English: Black-eared Flying Fox.
The black-eared flying fox, species Pteropus melanotus, is a bat of the family Pteropodidae (megabats). Also known as Blyth's flying fox, it is found on the Andaman Islands and Nicobar Islands (India), and in Sumatra (Indonesia).[1] 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 was later re-established as a distinct species, the Christmas Island fruit-bat Pteropus natalis.[2]
Distribution and habitat
The black-eared flying fox is native to various island groups in the Indo-Pacific. These include the Andaman Islands, the Nicobar Islands, the Mentawai Islands. It mostly roosts in large colonies in forests near the coast, especially in mangrove areas.[1]
Biology
The black-eared flying fox is more diurnal than most bats,[citation needed] emerging from its roosts before dusk and feeding on the fruits and flowers of at least twenty-six species of forest trees at least ten of which are introduced species. A single young is born annually.[1]
Status
The black-eared flying fox faces a number of threats. Destruction of its forest habitat reduces the availability of roosting sites and the animal is hunted by man for food. The crushed bones of this species are used in traditional medicine to relieve asthma symptoms. However, it has proved adaptable to changes in diet and now feeds on a number of introduced species of plant. The IUCN has rated this species as "Vulnerable".[1]
References
Todd, C.M.; Dorrestein, A.; Pulscher, L.A.; Welbergen, J.A. (2021). "Pteropus melanotus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T18740A22082634. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T18740A22082634.en. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
John CZ Woinarski, Samantha Flakus, David J. James, Brendan Tiernan, Gemma J. Dale and Tanya Detto (2014) "An island-wide monitoring program demonstrates decline in reporting rate for the Christmas Island flying-fox, Pteropus melanotus natalis." Acta Chiropterologica, 16.1 (2014): 117-127.
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