The diet of Pteropus voeltzkowi, an endangered fruit bat endemic to Pemba Island, Tanzania

ENTWISTLE, ABIGAIL; CORP, NADIA

Abstract

The diet of the Pemba flying fox Pteropus voeltzkowi, a species endemic to the island of Pemba off Tanzania, was investigated. Faecal pellets, ejecta and dropped fruits were collected from under roosts to facilitate dietary analysis. This was supplemented by data from local villagers and school students. The main component of the diet was mango (Mangifera indica), but bats also ate breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis), figs (Ficus spp.), flowers, leaves, and other fruit. Pollen from at least five plant species was also found in faecal pellets. Pteropus voeltzkowi may be one of the only species on the island that disperses larger seeds. The germination rate of bat-ingested seeds was higher than that for seeds from ripe fruit, and this appeared to be linked to selective ingestion of viable seeds by bats.

Citation

ENTWISTLE, A., & CORP, N. (1997). The diet of Pteropus voeltzkowi, an endangered fruit bat endemic to Pemba Island, Tanzania. African journal of ecology,

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: 1997-12
• Deposit Date: Feb 15, 2024
• Journal: African Journal of Ecology
• Print ISSN: 0141-6707
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Publisher URL: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1365-2028.1997.092-8900092.x