Map_thumbnail_large_font

Pteropus woodfordi

Status_ne_offStatus_dd_offStatus_lc_offStatus_nt_offStatus_vu_onStatus_en_offStatus_cr_offStatus_ew_offStatus_ex_off

Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family
ANIMALIA CHORDATA MAMMALIA CHIROPTERA PTEROPODIDAE

Scientific Name: Pteropus woodfordi
Species Authority: Thomas, 1888
Common Name/s:
English – Dwarf Flying Fox, Least Flying-fox, Least Flying Fox, Least Fruit Bat
Spanish – Zorro Volador De Woodford

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria: Vulnerable B1ab(ii,iii) ver 3.1
Year Published: 2008
Assessor/s: Leary, T. & Hamilton, S.
Reviewer/s: Lamoreux, J. (Global Mammal Assessment Team), Racey, P.A., Medellín, R. & Hutson, A.M. (Chiroptera Red List Authority)
Contributor/s:
Justification:
Listed as Vulnerable because its extent of occurrence is less than 20,000 km2, its distribution is severely fragmented, and there is continuing decline in: area of occupancy (i.e., loss of old-growth forest, and presumably roosting sites), and the extent and quality of its habitat over much of its range.

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description: This species is endemic to the Solomon Islands. It has been recorded from the islands of Fauro, Guadacanal, Kerehikapa, Kolombangara, Malaita, Mbanika, New Georgia, Nggela Sule, Pavuvu, Sikopo, Vangunu, and Vella Lavella (Flannery 1995). The species is not known from Bougainville just 12 km from Fauro and with another island stepping stone between them. This provides some evidence that relatively small stretches of water between islands could be barriers to dispersal for some bats in the region. Competitive exclusion from Pteropus mahaganus might also account for the absence of this species on Bougainville and Choiseul (S. Hamilton pers. comm.). It has been recorded from sea level to 1,230 m asl.
Countries:
Native:
Solomon Islands
Range Map: Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population: This species used to be common in the southern and western Solomon Islands (e.g., New Georgia) (Flannery 1995; T. Leary pers. comm.).
Population Trend: Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology: The species is found in a wide variety of habitat types. It has been recorded from lowland gardens, through to mature forest. Animals have been observed feeding on young coconuts, and coconut and kapok flowers. Presumably females give birth to a single young. This species seems likely to roost in old-growth tree hollows (K. Helgen pers. comm.).
Systems: Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s): Assuming that this species does roost in holes in old-growth forest, deforestation leading to their loss is likely to be a threat to this species. A number of islands within its range (e.g., New Georgia) have been extensively logged. It is possibly threatened to some degree by localised hunting (S. Hamilton pers. comm.).

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions: It is listed on Appendix II of CITES. It is not known if this species is present in any protected areas (T. Leary pers. comm.). Further research is needed to confirm the roosting sites of this species, and to determine if it can at all adapt to any secondary habitats (S. Hamilton and T. Leary pers. comm.).
Citation: Leary, T. & Hamilton, S. 2008. Pteropus woodfordi. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 25 May 2013.
Disclaimer: To make use of this information, please check the <Terms of Use>.
Feedback: If you see any errors or have any questions or suggestions on what is shown on this page, please fill in the feedback form so that we can correct or extend the information provided