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| Subspecies: | Unknown |
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| Est. World Population: | |
| CITES Status: | NOT LISTED |
| IUCN Status: | Least Concern |
| U.S. ESA Status: | NOT LISTED |
| Body Length: | |
| Tail Length: | |
| Shoulder Height: | |
| Weight: | |
| Top Speed: | |
| Jumping Ability: | (Horizontal) |
| Life Span: | in the Wild |
| Life Span: | in Captivity |
| Sexual Maturity: | (Females) |
| Sexual Maturity: | (Males) |
| Litter Size: | |
| Gestation Period: | |
Habitat:
Feeding and roosting habitats include sclerophyll woodland, paperbark swamp forest, mangroves, bamboo, and occasionally orchards or ornamental trees (Vardon et al. 2001, Birt et al. 2008, M. Pennay pers. comm.). Observational and morphological evidence indicates P. scapulatus is highly nectarivorous and rarely uses fruit food resources (Birt 2004, Southerton et al. 2008). Colonies form near ephemeral flowerings of Eucalyptus and Melaleuca spp., aggregations of hundreds of thousands are associated with heavy flowering of preferred species (Ratcliffe 1932, Birt 2004, Southerton et al. 2008). It is believed to prefer foraging in native vegetation to urban plantings (Chamberlin 2008).
Pteropus scapulatus is a highly mobile, largely nomadic species. There is evidence of seasonal use of parts of tropical Queensland and Northern Territory, and infrequent, irregular presence in the south. Satellite telemetry studies found individuals moved several hundred kilometres between successive roost sites (C. Palmer pers. comm., H. Field pers. comm.). Birt (2004) found distances travelled from roosts to initial foraging areas ranged from 4 km to 23.5 km. Some individuals used multiple foraging areas per night moving 0.5 km to 24 km between successive sites. Viable pollen is carried on their fur, generating diverse and widespread patterns of pollen dispersal.
Local populations can experience periods of nutritional stress indicated by low body weights, poor body conditions, observations of diurnal feeding and reduced reproduction (Plowright et al. 2008). The extent and incidence of these events are unknown.
Reproduction is synchronous throughout the range. After a gestation period of approximately six months, females give birth to a single young in April-May, and the lactation period lasts three to five months (Martin et al. 1996).
Pteropus scapulatus is a highly mobile, largely nomadic species. There is evidence of seasonal use of parts of tropical Queensland and Northern Territory, and infrequent, irregular presence in the south. Satellite telemetry studies found individuals moved several hundred kilometres between successive roost sites (C. Palmer pers. comm., H. Field pers. comm.). Birt (2004) found distances travelled from roosts to initial foraging areas ranged from 4 km to 23.5 km. Some individuals used multiple foraging areas per night moving 0.5 km to 24 km between successive sites. Viable pollen is carried on their fur, generating diverse and widespread patterns of pollen dispersal.
Local populations can experience periods of nutritional stress indicated by low body weights, poor body conditions, observations of diurnal feeding and reduced reproduction (Plowright et al. 2008). The extent and incidence of these events are unknown.
Reproduction is synchronous throughout the range. After a gestation period of approximately six months, females give birth to a single young in April-May, and the lactation period lasts three to five months (Martin et al. 1996).
Range:
This species is widespread in northern and eastern Australia and occurs on various islands in the Torres Strait including Thursday, Horn, Badu, Hammond and Muralag (Helgen 2004, Birt et al. 2008, Lavery et al. 2011, T. Lavery pers. comm.). There are vagrant sighting in South Australia (Birt et al. 2008, T. Reardon pers comm.) and New Zealand c. 1927 (Daniel 1975). Historical records from Western Province, Papua New Guinea c. 1972 have not been confirmed and are presumed extralimital (Waithman 1979, Lavery et al. 2011).
Conservation:
This species is listed on Appendix II of CITES. It is present in some protected areas on an irregular basis. Roost sites in urban areas in Australia are becoming more common and urban gardens may serve as alternative habitat in times of reduced flowering in native vegetation. Persecution of the species has increased with the discovery of zoonoses and with public concerns about smell and noise associated with large colonies near dwellings.