By Tanya Dewey and Jess Long
Geographic Range
Pteropus livingstonii (Comoro black flying fox) is found on only two islands in the Comoro island chain, just off the coast of Africa. These islands are Nzwani, also called Anjouan, and Mwali, also called Moheli. (Emanoil, Edward, and Kasinec, 1994)
Other Geographic Terms:
island endemic 
.
Habitat
Comoro black flying foxes prefer dense, upland mountain forests which have steep sided valleys. (Hutchins, Kleiman, and Geist, 2003)
These animals are found in the following types of habitat:
tropical ; terrestrial .
Terrestrial Biomes:
forest ; rainforest .
Physical Description
(17.6 to 28.16 oz)
(11.81 in)
(4.92 ft)
Comoro black flying foxes have black pelage with golden or tawny tinges on the rump, sides of the belly, and at times on each shoulder. They have unique, semicircular ears. Both of these features distinguish them from other pteropodids. They weigh from 500 to 800 grams, have a wingspan up to 1.5 meters, and are about 30 cm in body length. (Emanoil, Edward, and Kasinec, 1994)
Some key physical features:
endothermic ; homoiothermic; bilateral symmetry .
Sexual dimorphism: sexes alike.
Reproduction
Comoro black flying foxes breed once each year.
Comoro black flying foxes breed from January through June.
Comoro black flying foxes are polygynous. Females will mate with more than one male throughout their lifetime and males attempt to mate with as many females as they can. Males do not stay around after mating, leaving the females to raise and care for the young. (Hutchins, Kleiman, and Geist, 2003)
Mating systems:
polygynous .
The breeding season for P. livingstonii is from January through June. Gestation lasts 4 to 6 months, after which a single young is born between July and October. Young are weaned within 4 to 6 months of being born. (Hutchins, Kleiman, and Geist, 2003)
Key reproductive features:
iteroparous ; seasonal breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; viviparous .
There was no information specifically on parental investment in P. livingstonii. In general, members of the genus Pteropus form maternity colonies where females and their young gather. Females forage at night and return to their young in the maternity roost to nurse them. (Gould, Woolf, and Turner, 1973)
Parental investment:
altricial ; pre-fertilization (provisioning, protecting: female); pre-hatching/birth (provisioning: female, protecting: female); pre-weaning/fledging (provisioning: female, protecting: female).
Lifespan/Longevity
There is very little information known about the longevity of Comoro black flying foxes in either captivity or in the wild. Other Pteropus species are known to live up to 30 years in captivity, and around 10 years or more in the wild.
Behavior
Comoro black flying foxes form small roosting groups which are called harems. They have very slow wing beats and often glide instead of flying. They use updrafts of warm air to help extend their gliding distance. Like other pteropodids, Comoro black flying foxes are active in the evening and at night when foraging for fruit. They roost and forage in groups. Comoro black flying foxes do not migrate. (Hutchins, Kleiman, and Geist, 2003)
Home Range
There is no available information on the home range of Comoro black flying foxes.
Key behaviors:
flies; nocturnal ; crepuscular ; motile ; sedentary ; social .
Communication and Perception
In general, Pteropus species use olfaction to find fruiting trees and determine if fruit is ripe enough to eat. They have good vision and often use vocalizations to communicate. Like most mammal, chemoreception is important in communicating sexual receptiveness. (Dechmann, 2005)
Food Habits
Comoro black flying foxes are frugivorous. In the dry season they tend to be much more selective on what and where they feed, preferring fig trees. A very important tree for P. livingstonii and P. seychellensis is the giant-leaved fig tree (Ficus lutea). This tree is chosen over many other fig trees. In the rainy season Comoro black flying foxes feed on a larger variety of fruits because more are available. (Sewall, 2008)
Plant Foods:
fruit; flowers.
Predation
- humans (Homo sapiens)
Humans are primary predators of P. livingstonii, both for food and as a secondary result of forest destruction. Other predators have not been documented, but large arboreal snakes and raptors make take young and adults. (Emanoil, Edward, and Kasinec, 1994)
Ecosystem Roles
Members of the genus Pteropus are important in the dispersal of seeds in the forests they inhabit. They are often seen as keystone species because they maintain forest regeneration patterns. (Hutchins, Kleiman, and Geist, 2003)
Key ways these animals impact their ecosystem:
disperses seeds; pollinates.
Economic Importance for Humans: Negative
There are no adverse effects of Comoro black flying foxes on humans.
Economic Importance for Humans: Positive
Comoro black flying foxes are sometimes food for humans. They are also important members of their native ecosystems, helping to disperse fruiting tree species and sometimes pollinate plants. (Hutchins, Kleiman, and Geist, 2003)
Ways that people benefit from these animals:
food ; pollinates crops.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List: [link]:
Critically Endangered.
US Federal List: [link]:
No special status.
CITES: [link]:
Appendix II.
State of Michigan List: [link]:
No special status.
Comoro black flying foxes are one of the most critically endangered bat species, with an estimated population size of 400 individuals. Rapid destruction of the forest habitats they rely on indicates these flying foxes may become extinct within 10 years.
For More Information
Find Pteropus livingstonii information at
Contributors
Tanya Dewey (author, editor), Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology. Jess Long (author), University of Wisconsin Stevens Point. Chris Yahnke (editor, instructor), University of Wisconsin Stevens Point.
