Pteropus subniger

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	MAMMALIA	CHIROPTERA	PTEROPODIDAE

Scientific Name:

Pteropus subniger

Species Authority:

(Kerr, 1792)

Common Name/s:

English	–	Dark Flying Fox, Lesser Mascarene Flying-fox
Spanish	–	Zorro Volador Oscuro De Mauricio

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Extinct ver 3.1

Year Assessed:

2008

Assessor/s

Mickleburgh, S., Hutson, A.M.M., Bergmans, W. & Howell, K.

Evaluator/s:

Hutson, A.M.M., Racey, P.A. & Mickleburgh, S. (Chiroptera Red List Authority)

Justification:
The last authentic record of this species on Mauritius was in 1859, but it is believed to have died out between 1864 and 1873. On Réunion, no new records appeared after 1862 and it seems probable that it became extinct in the 1860s.

History:

2004	–	Extinct
1996	–	Extinct
1994	–	Extinct (IUCN)
1990	–	Extinct (IUCN 1990)
1988	–	Extinct

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	This species was previously known from Mauritius and Réunion. It was restricted to elevations of between 1,200 and 1,600 m asl.
Countries:	Regionally extinct: Mauritius; Réunion

Population [top]

Population:	This species is now extinct. It is believed to have become extinct on Mauritius between 1864 and 1873. It is likely to have disappeared from Réunion in the 1860s. It may have lasted a little longer but is now certain to be extinct. In the 1730s it was common enough to consider for the bat oil trade.

Population:

This species is now extinct. It is believed to have become extinct on Mauritius between 1864 and 1873. It is likely to have disappeared from Réunion in the 1860s. It may have lasted a little longer but is now certain to be extinct. In the 1730s it was common enough to consider for the bat oil trade.

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	It roosted in trees and was sometimes found in rocks. Its very long and dense fur suggest that it may have had a preference for cool roosting places, such as the higher altitudes in Réunion, and its reported ability to exploit suitably rocky substrates indicate that it was not dependent on forest or even trees for roosting places (Bergmans, 1990).
Systems:	Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Both deforestation and local hunting are thought to have contributed to the extinction of this species. It was thought to have lived in hollow trees.

Major Threat(s):

Both deforestation and local hunting are thought to have contributed to the extinction of this species. It was thought to have lived in hollow trees.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	No longer applicable.

Conservation Actions:

No longer applicable.

Citation:	Mickleburgh, S., Hutson, A.M.M., Bergmans, W. & Howell, K. 2008. Pteropus subniger. In: IUCN 2009. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2009.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 21 November 2009.
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