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Cynopterus sphinx (Vahl, 1797)
| Family Name: | Pteropodidae |
| Taxonomic Group: | Vertebrates (Mammal) |
| Common Name: | Short-nosed Fruit Bat |
Name
Description
| Description | Upperparts brown to grey-brown. Underparts paler. Males have rich red-brown collar, females have yellow. Ears and wing bones are edged in white. |
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Ecology, Habitat & Location
| Ecological Notes | Nocturnal, feeds on nectar and fruit. Known to roost in trees, under palm fronds and even under the roofs of houses. |
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| Habitats | Forest, Terrestrial |
| Distribution | In Singapore, known only from Pulau Tekong where it was first discovered in January 2002. Widely distributed in India, South China and Southeast Asia. |
Conservation
| Trends & Threats | Loss of forest. |
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| Scientific Interest & Potential Value | Fruit bats are pollinators of certain trees, and help to disperse the seeds of others. The identification of the Singapore population as C. sphinx is tentative. |
| Conservation Notes | Protection of its natural habitat. |
Status
| Species Status | Native |
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| Conservation Status | Rare |
| Singapore Red Data Book Status | Vulnerable (VU) [2008] |
Photos
References
| References | Baker, N. & Lim, K. 2008. Wild animals of Singapore. Singapore: Draco Publishing and Distribution Pte Ltd. 180pp Davison, G.W.H., Ng, P.K.L. & Ho, H.C (Eds.). 2008. The Singapore Red Data Book (2nd Edition). Singapore: Nature Society (Singapore). 285pp |
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