Bismarck masked flying fox | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Chiroptera |
Family: | Pteropodidae |
Genus: | Pteropus |
Species: | P. capistratus
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Binomial name | |
Pteropus capistratus
Peters, 1867
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Bismarck masked flying fox range (green — native, brown — vagrant) | |
Synonyms | |
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The Bismarck masked flying fox (Pteropus capistratus) is a species of flying fox in the family Pteropodidae found in Papua New Guinea and named after the Bismarck Archipelago. It was once considered a subspecies of Pteropus temminckii before being reassessed in 2001. This species has two subspecies, P. c. capistratus and P. c. ennisae. [2] The IUCN classified it as Near Threatened in 2009, noting that the rate of decline is almost high enough to reclassify the species as Vulnerable. [1]
The Bismarck masked flying fox was described as a new species in 1867 by German naturalist Wilhelm Peters. [3] Prior to 1995, the Bismarck masked flying fox was largely considered a subspecies of the Temminck's flying fox (Pteropus temminckii). [4]
Its forearm length is 109–118 mm (4.3–4.6 in). [5]
It is one of the rare species of mammals in which the males can lactate. [6] It is generally solitary, though males and females may roost together in pairs. [7]: 6
The Bismarck masked flying fox is endemic to Papua New Guinea where it has been documented at a range of elevations from 0–1,200 m (0–3,937 ft) above sea level. [1]
As of 2021, it is evaluated as a vulnerable species by the IUCN. It meets the criteria for this designation because it has a small population size, likely numbering fewer than 10,000 mature individuals. It is experiencing significant habitat loss and population decline. [1]