(DRAFT) - Taxonomy
Species BAT, FRUIT, MARIANA, LITTLE
Species Id ESIS051006
Date 14 MAR 96

TAXONOMY

NAME - BAT, FRUIT, MARIANA, LITTLE

OTHER COMMON NAMES - BAT, FRUIT, MARIANA, LITTLE;BAT, FRUIT, MARIANAS, LITTLE; BAT, FRUIT, TOKUDA'S; FOX, FLYING, TOKUDA'S; FOX, FLYING and GUAM; FANIHI

ELEMENT CODE -

CATEGORY - Mammals

PHYLUM AND SUBPHYLUM - CHORDATA,

CLASS AND SUBCLASS - MAMMALIA,

ORDER AND SUBORDER - CHIROPTERA,

FAMILY AND SUBFAMILY - PTEROPODIDAE,

GENUS AND SUBGENUS - PTEROPUS,

SPECIES AND SSP - TOKUDAE,

SCIENTIFIC NAME - PTEROPUS TOKUDAE

AUTHORITY -

TAXONOMY REFERENCES -

COMMENTS ON TAXONOMY -
Little Mariana Fruit Bat

Pteropus tokudae Tate, 1934

KINGDOM: Animal GROUP: Mammal

PHYLUM: Chordata CLASS: Mammalia
ORDER: Chiroptera FAMILY: Pteropodidae

Adult little Mariana fruit bats have body measurements of:
head-body length, 140 to 151 mm; forearm length, 94 to 95 mm;
wingspan, 650 to 709 mm; and body weight, 152 grams (01,02,03). The
abdomen and wings are brown to dark brown but with few whitish hairs
present (01). The mantle and sides of the neck vary from brown to
to light gold. The top of the head is grayish to yellowish brown
while the throat and chin are dark brown.
Pteropus tokudae was first described in 1934 (01). No
additional taxonomic studies of this bat have been made. Tate (01)
believed that the little Mariana fruit bat was closely related to or
perhaps a race of P. insularis from Truk in the Caroline Islands.
P. tokudae has no taxonomic synonyms.
The type and paratype specimens of P. tokudae, along with the
skull of a third animal, are deposited in the American Museum of
Natural History (01,03). No other specimens are known to exist.
Taxonomy - 1 (DRAFT) - Taxonomy
Species BAT, FRUIT, MARIANA, LITTLE
Species Id ESIS051006
Date 14 MAR 96

Photographs of the skull of one animal are present at the Guam
Division of Aquatic and Wildlife Resources. No other descriptions
are known for this species.
The common name "little Marianas fruit bat" is frequently used
in scientific reports (04,05,06). "Fanihi" is the local Chamorro
name for the fruit bat. This bat is also refered to by the IUCN
Red List of Threatened Animals as the "Guam flying fox". Other
common names used are, Tokuda's fruit bat and Tokuda's flying fox.

Taxonomy - 2 (DRAFT) - Status
Species BAT, FRUIT, MARIANA, LITTLE
Species Id ESIS051006
Date 14 MAR 96

STATUS

Coded Status

E: Federal Endangered

Commercial
Commercial/consumption
Game (Consumptive Recreational)
Ceremonial/Cultural

COMMENTS ON STATUS -
UNAPPROVED PLAN:
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1987. Recovery Plan for the Marianas
Fruit Bat and Little Marianas Fruit Bat on Guam. Tech. Draft. U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service, Portland, OR. 107 pp.

Excessive hunting and other disturbance by humans has led to the
precipitious decline of the fruit bats throughout the populous
islands of the Marianas. The recovery plan for the little Mariana
fruit bat states that "until the little Marianas fruit bat has been
found to be extant, no goals are appropriate at this time. Surveys
will be undertaken to determine status and gather useful biological
data that will be used to determine appropriate recovery goals..."
Planned recovery actions for the Marianas fruit bat should benefit
the little Mariana fruit bat. These actions include: (1) control of
illegal hunting of fruit bats through law enforcement; (2) preventing
predation by the exotic brown tree snake (if, indeed, this is a
problem) first through research, then through application of control
measures; (3) determining the effects of trade in fruit bats on
Guam's fruit bat population; (4) continuing research on autecology
of fruit bats; (5) legally securing and protecting essential forest
ecosystems; (6) managing essential forest ecosystems for the benefit
of the fruit bat by limiting human disturbance (development), limiting
forest clearing (maintaining later successional stages), and by
determining the impact of alien plants and animals (livestock and
exotic) on fruit bat habitat; (7) monitoring the status of fruit bats
on Guam; (8) promoting conservation of fruit bats in the Northern
Marianas and developing a regional program for managing fruit bats;
(9) developing a public awareness program; (10) if necessary
augmenting existing populations of fruit bats on Guam through captive
breeding and/or transplanting wild individuals.
Recovery actions completed or ongoing include: (1) ongoing
autecological studies and censuses of the Mariana fruit bat; (2)
ongoing law enforcement; (3) designated conservation reserves on
1700 ha of territorial land and on ca. 500 ha of Air Force and Navy
lands; (4) ongoing research on the Brown Tree Snake; and (5) a
public information program, now discontinued.

Status - 1 (DRAFT) - Status
Species BAT, FRUIT, MARIANA, LITTLE
Species Id ESIS051006
Date 14 MAR 96

79/05/18:44 FR 29128/29130 - Notice of review status
79/06/13:44 FR 33915/ - Extension of comment period
80/07/21:45 FR 48830/48845 - Notice of potential proposals to CITES
80/11/06:45 FR 73876/73881 - Notice of proposals to CITES
80/11/29:48 FR 53729/53733 - Proposed listing
84/08/27:49 FR 33881/33885 - Listing, final rule
87/09/23:52 FR 35743/35748 - Proposed addition to CITES
87/12/28:52 FR 48820/48823 - Final rule; listed in CITES-II

Status - 2 HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS

HABITAT - TERRESTRIAL
TERRESTRIAL

LAND USE -
Evergreen Forest Land

COMMENTS ON HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS -
Only a single reference exists on the habitat used by Little
Mariana fruit bats. Nine vegetative types have been described for
Guam (09,10). An animal killed by hunters in 1968 was taken
at Tarague Point (02) in an area of mature limestone forest (04).
This forest is characterized by sparse undergrowth, a canopy 8 to
15 m high, and scattered taller emergent trees. Common species
include Ficus prolixa, Aglaia mariannensis, Guamia mariannae, Cycas
circinalis, Neisosperma oppositifolia, Mammea odorata, Macaranga
thompsonii, Pisonia grandis, Artocarpus mariannensis, Eleaocarpus
joga, and Triphasia trifolia. Secondary growth limestone
forest is shorter and has dense undergrowth. Many of the same
species are present in lower abundance as well as Pandanus
tectorius, P. dubius, Hibiscus tiliaceus, Morinda citrifolia, Carica
papaya and Cestrum diurnum. Large stands of limestone forest occur
in northern Guam, especially along clifflines. Soils in these areas
tend to be thin and rocky. Limestone rock outcrops are a common
feature.
In the past, when P. tokudae was common, it may have used a
wider range of habitat.

Habitat Associations - 1 (DRAFT) - Food Habits
Species BAT, FRUIT, MARIANA, LITTLE
Species Id ESIS051006
Date 14 MAR 96

FOOD HABITS

TROPHIC LEVEL -
HERBIVORE

LIFESTAGE FOOD FOOD PART
General Evergreen Shrubs-Flowers/Fruit/Seed

Food Habits - 1 (DRAFT) - Environment Associations
Species BAT, FRUIT, MARIANA, LITTLE
Species Id ESIS051006
Date 14 MAR 96

ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS

G = General A = Adult
LIM = Limiting RA = Resting Adult
J = Juvenile FA = Feeding Adult
RJ = Resting Juvenile BA = Breeding Adult
FJ = Feeding Juvenile P = Pupae
L = Larvae E = Egg
RL = Resting Larvae
FL = Feeding Larvae

LIFESTAGE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS
G Coastal Features: Vegetated offshore islands
G Terrestrial Features: Cliffs/ledges

Environment Associations - 1 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species BAT, FRUIT, MARIANA, LITTLE
Species Id ESIS051006
Date 14 MAR 96

LIFE HISTORY

FOOD HABITS:
No information exists on the food habits of Pteropus tokudae.
The diet probably consists of fruits and flowers of trees found
in limestone forest.

HOME RANGE/TERRITORY:
No information exist on the home range or territorial behavior
of this species.

PERIODICITY:
No information exists on the activity of this species.

MIGRATION PATTERNS:
No information exists on the migration patterns of this species.

COVER/SHELTER REQUIREMENTS:
No information exists on the cover requirements of this species.

REPRODUCTIVE SITE REQUIREMENTS:
No information exists on the reproductive site requirements of
this species.

REPRODUCTIVE CHARACTERISTICS:
The only information on breeding in P. tokudae was gathered
from a single female shot by hunters on 5 June 1968 (02,11). This
animal was with a juvenile that was able to fly away.

PARENTAL CARE:
The only information on breeding in P. tokudae was gathered
from a single female shot by hunters on 5 June 1968 (02,11). This
animal was associating with or perhaps carrying a juvenile that was
old enough to fly away. This may indicate that mothers care for
their young for at least several months.

POPULATION BIOLOGY:
No information exists on the population biology of this species.

SPECIES INTERRELATIONSHIPS:
No information exists on the species interrelationships of this
bat.

OTHER LIFE HISTORY DESCRIPTORS:
None.

Life History - 1 (DRAFT) - Management Practices
Species BAT, FRUIT, MARIANA, LITTLE
Species Id ESIS051006
Date 14 MAR 96

MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

RESULT MANAGEMENT PRACTICE

Adverse
Adverse Commercial Exploitation
Adverse Exotic/Feral/Introducted Species
Adverse Forest Alteration
Adverse Harvesting
Adverse Poaching
Adverse Predation
Adverse Vegetation Composition Changes
Beneficial Stocking captive-reared wild-strain animals
Beneficial Maintaining undisturbed/undeveloped areas
Beneficial Controlling/Restricting Noncommercial Harvest
Beneficial Reforestation
Beneficial Transplanting wild animals
Beneficial Controlling/Removing Exotic Vertebrates
Beneficial Regulating commercial harvest levels
Beneficial Land Acquisition
Beneficial Maintaining Later Stages of Succession
Beneficial Restricting Poaching
Existing
Existing Commercial Exploitation
Existing Exotic/Feral/Introducted Species
Existing Forest Alteration
Existing Harvesting
Existing Poaching
Existing Predation
Existing Vegetation Composition Changes

COMMENTS ON MANAGEMENT PRACTICES -
Little is known about the causes of decline for the little
Mariana fruit bat (Pteropus tokudae.). This species has always been
considered rare on Guam by hunters, elderly residents and scientific
collectors (01,07). No documentation of its decline exists and,
thus, discussion on the reasons for its disappearance is speculatory.
P. tokudae has probably suffered from overhunting and poaching
as has P. mariannus mariannus, a second, larger species of fruit bat
on Guam (04). Fruit bats are considered a delicacy in the Marianas.
A single report exists of a little Mariana fruit bat being killed by
hunters in 1968 (02). Probably, a major reduction in the numbers of
both species of fruit bats occurred between 1920 and 1945 when
extensive hunting took place (04,07,08). Other possible reasons that
may have caused further declines in P. tokudae after World War II are
habitat destruction (forest clearing, alteration, etc.) and predation
by introduced brown tree snakes (Boiga irregularis) (04).
These factors, plus the occurrence of severe typhoons, threaten
any little Mariana fruit bats presently remaining on the island (04).

UNAPPROVED PLAN:
Management Practices - 1 (DRAFT) - Management Practices
Species BAT, FRUIT, MARIANA, LITTLE
Species Id ESIS051006
Date 14 MAR 96

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1987. Technical Draft. Recovery
Plan for the Marianas Fruit Bat and Little Marianas Fruit Bat on
Guam. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Portland, OR. 107 pp.

Management Practices - 2 (DRAFT) - References
Species BAT, FRUIT, MARIANA, LITTLE
Species Id ESIS051006
Date 14 MAR 96

References

***** REFERENCES FOR ALL NARRATIVES EXCEPT N-OCCURRENCE *****

01 Tate, G.H.H. 1934. Bats from the Pacific Islands, including a
new fruit bat from Guam. Am. Mus. Novit., No. 713. 3 pp.
02 Perez, G.S.A. 1972. Observations of Guam bats. Micronesica
8:141-149.
03 Koopman, K.F. 1984. Pers. Comm. (Oct 1984) Am. Mus. of Nat.
Hist., New York, NY 10024.
04 Wiles, G.J. In prep. The status of fruit bats in Guam.
05 Wheeler, M.E. and C.F. Aguon. 1978. The current status and
distribution of the Mariannus fruit bat of Guam. Div. of Aquatic
and Wild. Resources. Tech. Rep. No. 1. 29 pp.
06 Wheeler, M.E. 1979. The Mariannus fruit bat: Management history,
current status and future plans. Cal. - Neva. Wildl. Trans.
1979:149-165.
07 Baker, R.H. 1948. Comments on conservation problems in
Micronesia. Pages 53-55, In: Coolidge, H.J. (ed.). Conservation
in Micronesia. National Research Council, Washington, D.C. 70 pp.
08 Crampton, H.E. 1921. A journey to the Marriana Islands - Guam
and Saipan. L. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. 21:127-145.
09 Fosberg, F.R. 1960. The vegetation of Micronesia. Bull. Amer.
Mus. Nat. Hist. 119:1-75.
10 Stone, B.C. 1970. The flora of Guam. Micronesica 6:1-659.
11 Perez, G.S.A. 1972. Unpubl. Data. Div. of Aquatic and Wildl.
Res., Dept. of Agriculture, P.O. Box 2950, Agana, Guam 96910.
12 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1987. Memo to CITES Secretariat
on: Proposals to ammend Appendices I and II. U.S. Fish and Wildl.
Serv. (FWS/OSA) Feb. 11, 1987. Memo + attachment. 16 pp.

***** REFERENCES FOR N-OCCURRENCE NARRATIVE ONLY *****

01 Tate, G.H.H. 1934. Bats from the Pacific Islands, including
a new fruit bat from Guam. Amer. Mus. Novit., No. 713. 3 pp.
02 Perez, G.S.A. 1972. Observations of Guam bats. Micronesica
8:141-149.
03 Wiles, G.J. Unpubl. data. Div. of Aquatic and Wildl. Res.,
Dept. of Agriculture, P.O. Box 2950, Agana, Guam 96910.
04 Lemke, T.O. 1985. Per. Comm. (Jan 15). Div. of Fish and Wildl.,
Dept. of Nat. Res., Saipan, CNMI 96950. January 15, 1985.

References - 1