Tuesday 24 March 2009 Mariana fruit bat

The Mariana Fruit bat (Pteropus mariannus) is an endangered species of bat only found habituating the Mariana Islands, including Guam, and it is directly threatened by human behavior. Poaching has played a role in the decreasing numbers of the Mariana Fruit Bat, along with deforestation resulting in habitat loss and stress. Additionally this bat is found to be a popular local meal; however it is also linked to diseases and is a natural concentrator of pesticides much like other larger animals that accumulate DDT or similar chemicals from their food. Their diet consists of local fruit and nuts found in the trees, which they feast upon with their small but sharp teeth, they only eat plant matter and are of no threat to humans.

The Mariana fruit bat is a mid-sized bat, neither unusually large nor small for flying foxes (a flying fox is the nickname to megabats) and it can weigh up to a full pound (577 grams). Its forearm length ranges from 5 to 6 inches, (13-15.6cm); however the males are usually slightly larger. Their abdomens are usually a dark brown to black, while it has gray hairs throughout that appear to be scattered, their shoulders are usually a light brown or golden color, as are their necks while the head is particularly darker in tone. Individuals have much minor variation, with some having unusually light coloration, and others having much darker – but all within the ranges expected of this bat. They have very large eyes that make it easy for them to see, and rounded ears with a pointed muzzle, giving them the appearance of a canine. This is another reason they are called flying foxes.

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