About Pteropus tonganus Quoy & Gaimard, 1830
Taxonomic Identity
This species of bat, Pteropus tonganus Quoy & Gaimard, 1830 (the insular flying fox), displays some variation in coloration.
Dorsal and Mantle Coloration
Individuals have a black or seal brown back, while their mantle can appear orange, yellow, cream buff, or tawny.
External Morphology
This bat does not have an interfemoral membrane; its forearms and tibia are hairless, and male individuals have stiff, short, oily hairs.
Wing Appearance in Flight
When in flight, the underside of the bat's outstretched wings looks translucent dark brown.
Geographic Range
The insular flying fox has a widespread distribution across Polynesia, with a range that includes Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Samoa, Tonga, the Cook Islands, Tuvalu, Tokelau, Niue, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Fiji, and Wallis and Futuna.
Movement and Habitat
It will sometimes migrate between islands, and its typical habitats are tropical wet forests, mangrove forests, and plantations.
