Pteralopex
Encyclopedia
Pteralopex is a genus
of large megabat
s in the Pteropodidae family. They are restricted to Solomon Islands rain forests
in Melanesia
, and all species are seriously threatened, being rated as either endangered or critically endangered
by IUCN. Two species, P. taki and P. flanneryi, have been described since 2000
.
, formerly placed in this genus, has recently been transferred to the monotypic
Mirimiri.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of large megabat
Megabat
Megabats constitute the suborder Megachiroptera, family Pteropodidae of the order Chiroptera . They are also called fruit bats, old world fruit bats, or flying foxes.-Description:...
s in the Pteropodidae family. They are restricted to Solomon Islands rain forests
Solomon Islands rain forests
The Solomon Islands rain forests are a terrestrial ecoregion which includes most of the Solomon Islands and the islands of Bougainville and Buka, which are part of Papua New Guinea. The Santa Cruz Islands, which lie to the east of the Solomons, are part of the Vanuatu rain forests ecoregion,...
in Melanesia
Melanesia
Melanesia is a subregion of Oceania extending from the western end of the Pacific Ocean to the Arafura Sea, and eastward to Fiji. The region comprises most of the islands immediately north and northeast of Australia...
, and all species are seriously threatened, being rated as either endangered or critically endangered
Critically endangered
Version 2010.3 of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species identified 3744 Critically Endangered species, subspecies and varieties, stocks and subpopulations.Critically Endangered by kingdom:*1993 Animalia*2 Fungi*1745 Plantae*4 Protista-References:...
by IUCN. Two species, P. taki and P. flanneryi, have been described since 2000
Bats discovered in the 2000s
This page is a list of species of the order Chiroptera discovered in the 2000s. See also parent page Mammals discovered in the 2000s.-Desmalopex microleucopterus :A new species of flying fox found on Mindoro Island, Philippines....
.
Species
The Fijian monkey-faced batFijian Monkey-faced Bat
The Fijian monkey-faced bat , also called the Fiji Flying Fox, is an megabat endemic to Fiji. It was discovered the hills of Taveuni by Bill Beckon in 1977 and is Fiji's only endemic mammal. It is listed as a critically endangered species due to habitat loss. It has recently been transferred from...
, formerly placed in this genus, has recently been transferred to the monotypic
Monotypic
In biology, a monotypic taxon is a taxonomic group with only one biological type. The term's usage differs slightly between botany and zoology. The term monotypic has a separate use in conservation biology, monotypic habitat, regarding species habitat conversion eliminating biodiversity and...
Mirimiri.
- Bougainville monkey-faced batBougainville Monkey-faced BatThe Bougainville monkey-faced bat is a megabat found only on islands of Bougainville and Choiseul in Melanesia. It is listed as an endangered species due to habitat loss and human disturbance....
, Pteralopex anceps - Guadalcanal monkey-faced batGuadalcanal Monkey-faced BatThe Guadalcanal monkey-faced bat is a megabat endemic to Solomon Islands. It is listed as a critically endangered species....
, Pteralopex atrata - Greater Monkey-faced BatGreater Monkey-faced BatThe Greater Monkey-faced bat, is a megabat endemic to Solomon Islands, Bougainville, in Papua New Guinea, and nearby small islands. It is listed as a critically endangered species and the population is decreasing...
, Pteralopex flanneryi - Montane monkey-faced batMontane Monkey-faced BatThe Montane monkey-faced bat is a megabat endemic to the Solomon Islands. It is listed as a critically endangered species....
, Pteralopex pulchra - New Georgian Monkey-faced BatNew Georgian Monkey-faced BatThe New Georgian Monkey-faced Bat is a recently described species of megabat endemic to the Solomon Islands, more specifically New Georgia island and Vangunu island. It is presumably extinct on Kolombangara island, and remaining population on other islands are threatened by habitat loss and...
, Pteralopex taki