Pteropus dasymallus Temminck 1825

176.

Ryukyu Flying Fox

Pteropus dasymallus

French: Roussette des Ryukyu / German: Ryukyu-Flughund / Spanish: Zorro volador de Ryukyu

Other common names: Daito Flying Fox (daitoensis); Erabu Flying Fox (dasymallus); Formosan Flying Fox, Taiwanese Flying Fox (formosus); Orii's Flying Fox (inopinatus); Yaeyama Flying Fox (yayeyamae)

Taxonomy. Pteropus dasymallus Temminck, 1825,

“Le Japon... les environs de Nangasaki et de Jedo.” Restricted by N. Kuroda in 1933 to “Kuchi-no-Erabu [Island], North Riu Kiu [= Ryukyu] Chain,” Japan.

Pteropus dasymallus is in the vampyrus species group. Five subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution.

P. d. dasymallus Temminck, 1825 — Osumi and Tokara Is (Kuchinoerabujima, Kuchinoshima, Nakanojima, Suwanosejima, Tairajima, Akusekijima, Takarajima), N Ryukyu Is, Japan.

P. d. daitoensis Kuroda, 1921 — Daito Is (Kita-Daito, Minami-Daitd), E Ryukyu Is, Japan.

P. d. formosus Sclater, 1873 — Taiwan (Lutao, Lanyu, and Guishan Dao Is) and Philippines (Batan, Babuyan, Calayan, Dalupiri, Fuga, and Barit Is). Probably extinct on Taiwan mainland.

On following pages: 177. Bonin Flying Fox (Pteropus pselaphon); 178. Little Golden-mantled Flying Fox (Pteropus pumilus); 179. Lyle's Flying Fox (Pteropus lylei); 180. Indian Flying Fox (Pteropus medius); 181. Rodrigues Flying Fox (Pteropus rodricensis); 182. Large Flying Fox (Pteropus vampyrus); 183. Aldabra Flying Fox (Pteropus aldabrensis); 184. Malagasy Flying Fox (Pteropus rufus); 185. Seychelles Flying Fox (Pteropus seychellensis); 186. Greater Mascarene Flying Fox (Pteropus nigen; 187. Aru Flying Fox (Pteropus aruensis); 188. Kai Flying Fox (Pteropus keyensis); 189. Black-bearded Flying Fox (Pteropus melanopogon); 190. South Moluccan Flying Fox (Pteropus chrysoproctus); 191. North Moluccan Flying Fox (Pteropus caniceps).

P. d. inopinatus Kuroda, 1933 — Anami and Okinawa Is (Okinawajima, Izenajima, Kourijima, Iejima, Minnajima, Ikeijima, Henzajima, Hamahigajima, Kudakajima, Agunijima, Iheyajima, Yoronjima, Tokasikijima), C Ryukyu Is, Japan.

P. d. yayeyamae Kuroda, 1933 — Miyako and Yaeyama Is (Ishigakijima, Iriomotejima, Kohamajima, Hatomajima, Taketomijima, Haterumajima, Kurojima, Yonagunijima, Aragusukujima, Taramajima, Irabujima, Miyakojima, Ikemajima, Ogamijima, Kurimajima, Shimonjijima), S Ryukyu Is, Japan.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 185-230 mm (tailless), ear 16- 8-28 mm, hindfoot 40-55 mm, forearm 123-9-148- 9 mm; weight 318-662 g. Greatest lengths of skulls are 59-64- 2 mm. The Ryukyu Flying Fox has dense fur, big eyes, and small pointed ears, partly hidden in fur. Muzzle is darker than head. Long woolly hair varies from yellow-brown over reddish brown to blackish. Collar is yellowish white to reddish yellow. Head and belly of subspecies daitoensis are cream-colored. Wing membranes are dark brown. Uropatagium is reduced to narrow membrane along inside of lower limbs. Skull has short pointed snout. Zygomatic arches are thin and not much curved outward. Upper incisors are wide. I, is much bigger than I. Lower premolars have basal edges. M* is oval and larger than M,. Chromosomal complement has 2n = 38 and FN = 72.

Habitat. Subtropical and tropical dry forests, swamps, and some urban areas.

Food and Feeding. The Ryukyu Flying Fox feeds on a variety of fruits, leaves, and nectar from at least 18 genera in forests, orchards, and urban areas. Consumption of insects was also observed. It is an important seed disperser (e.g. Terminalia catappa, Combretaceae) over long distances.

Breeding. Mating season of the Ryukyu Flying Fox is from November to earlyJanuary; copulation was also observed in September. Births take place in April-June. Females give birth to one young after gestation of 4-6 months. Birth weights are 50-70 g. Recorded maximum life span is c.12 years in the wild and c.24 years in captivity.

Activity patterns. The Ryukyu Flying Fox is crepuscular and nocturnal. It roosts during the day in dense forests hanging on branches of tall trees (e.g. Casuarina, Casuarinaceae).

Movements, Home range and Social organization. The Ryukyu Flying Fox rests alone or in small groups. It tends to form small groups during nocturnal foraging. Cultivated areas are visited more rarely than native habitats. It does not have strict territories, and home ranges are highly variable (average 52-5 ha).

Status and Conservation. CITES Appendix II. Classified as Vulnerable on The IUCN Red List. On the Taiwanese mainland, subspecies formosus probably became extinct due hunting in the 1970s. Populations on other Taiwanese islands have also declined due to hunting and competition with Pallas’s Squirrels (Callosciurus erythraeus). On some Philippine islands,it is eaten as a delicacy. For subspecies in Japan, deforestation for construction sites and agricultural land is the main threat. Other threats include illegal killing, typhoons, and predation by domestic/feral dogs and cats. Adaptation to urban areas 1s possible.

Bibliography. Almeida et al. (2014), Andersen (1912b), Dobson (1878), Ingle & Heaney (1992), Kinjo & Nakamoto (2015), Kuroda (1921, 1933, 1939), Lee Yafu et al. (2009), Mickleburgh et al. (1992), Nakamoto et al. (2009, 2015), Osawa & Osawa (2013a, 2013b), Osawa et al. (2013), Simmons (2005), Smith & Xie Yan (2008), Temminck (1825), Toyama et al. (2012), Tsang (2015), Vincenot (2017a), Vincenot, Collazo & Russo (2017), Vincenot, Koyama & Russo (2015), Wang Yingxiang (2003), Yoshiyuki (1989), Zhang Jinshuo et al. (2010).