Pteropus samoensis: Samoan Flying Fox

Samoan Flying Fox - Pteropus samoensis
( Peale, 1848 )

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Subspecies:	Unknown
Est. World Population:

CITES Status:	NOT LISTED
IUCN Status:	Near Threatened
U.S. ESA Status:	NOT LISTED

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Top Speed:
Jumping Ability:	(Horizontal)

Life Span:	in the Wild
Life Span:	in Captivity

Sexual Maturity:	(Females)
Sexual Maturity:	(Males)
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Habitat:

Unlike most other pteropodids, this species roosts alone or in small family groups, most often in the forest canopy. Small numbers of bats will also roost within larger camps of Tongan fruit bats (Pteropus tonganus). It is found in primary tropical moist forest, and less often in agroforest, plantations, and village areas especially when roosting (Mickleburgh et al. 1992). The females give birth to single young and in Fiji, juvenile animals have been observed throughout the year, the species is not known to form maternity colonies like P. tonganus does (Scanlon et al. 2014a).

The diet of P. samoensis in Fiji overlaps with other co-existing phytophagous bats (P. tonganus and the nectarivorous Notopteris macdonaldi). However, they have a narrower dietary breath than P. tonganus and show a preference for the flowers of forest lianas, Freycinetia, and the fleshy fruits of Ficus, Freycinetia, Garcinia and Parinari (Scanlon et al. 2014b).

Range:

Samoan Flying Fox is restricted to Fiji, Samoa, and American Samoa. In Fiji it is known from the islands of Vatu Vara, Cicia, Vanua Balavu, Kadavu, Ovalau, Taveuni, Vanua Levu, Viti Levu, and probably occurs on some medium-sized islands in the Lau Group (Palmeirim et al. 2005). In Samoa, it has been recorded on the islands of 'Upolu and Savai'i. In American Samoa it has been recorded on Tutuila, Ofu, and Ta'u (Mickleburgh et al. 1992, Flannery 1995). The species was prehistorically present in Tonga, but was extirpated at the time of Polynesian colonization (Koopman and Steadman 1995).

Conservation:

The Samoan Flying Fox is found in several protected areas across its range. It is listed on Appendix I of CITES. Continued enforcement of export bans of this species is necessary to aid recovery. Domestic legislation to regulate hunting is needed over all the species' range states. Legal protection is present in some protected areas in Samoa and the National Park of American Samoa, which contains important sites for foraging and roosting (A. Brooke pers. comm.). Local awareness programmes are needed to emphasize the importance of wildlife resources. Key sites for roosting and foraging should be identified and protected (Mickleburgh et al. 1992). Both flying fox species (Pteropus samoensis and Pteropus tonganus) are still under a hunting ban in American Samoa, however, this legislation is temporary (A. Brooke pers. comm.). There is a ban on hunting any bat in American Samoa, but bats are taken for personal consumption as this ban is not widely enforced (A. Brooke pers. comm.). In Fiji, there is a need to assess the distribution (particularly its occurrence in the Lau Group) and to protect native forests (Palmeirim et al. 2005).