| Fijian monkey-faced bat | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Male near the summit of Mt. Koroturaga (formerly Des Vœux Peak) in Taveuni, Fiji. This individual bat is theholotype of the species. | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Chiroptera |
| Family: | Pteropodidae |
| Genus: | Mirimiri Helgen, 2005 |
| Species: | M. acrodonta |
| Binomial name | |
| Mirimiri acrodonta (Hill & Beckon, 1978) | |
 | |
| Fijian monkey-faced bat range | |
| Synonyms | |
Pteralopex acrodonta | |
TheFijian monkey-faced bat (Mirimiri acrodonta), also known as theFijian flying fox orFijian flying monkey, is amegabatendemic toFiji. It was discovered in old-growth cloud forest onDes Vœux Peak, the second highest mountain peak (1,195 m; 3,921 ft) on the island ofTaveuni by William and Ruth Beckon in 1976,[2] and is Fiji's only endemic mammal.[3] It has recently been transferred fromPteralopex to its ownmonotypic genusMirimiri.[4]
When initially encountered, this species was placed in the genusPteralopex (the "monkey-faced bats"). All other members of the genus are found in theSolomon Islands. However, genetics research indicates significantgenetic divergence between this species andPteralopex.[4] Because it is no longer classified in the genusPteralopex, some now refer to it as the Fijian flying fox rather than the Fijian monkey-faced bat.[5]
These bats weigh 222–362 grams (0.5–0.8 lb). Their forearms are 120 millimetres (4.7 in) long. Their fur is uniformly tan and thick, sometimes hiding their ears. Their eyes are distinctly orange, which helps distinguish this species from other Fijian megabats.[5] Their wings attach to their bodies closer to the spine as opposed to lateral attachment. They lack tails.[4]
These bats are difficult to capture and few in number, so little is known about their biology. They appear to shelter in clumps ofepiphytic plants that live in the cloud forest canopy. A pregnant individual was once encountered in May.[6] In different years, lactating females have been observed in May. Based on themorphology of their teeth, it is thought that they eat tough plants.[5]
The Fijian monkey-faced bat is found only on the third-largest island ofFiji,Taveuni. It is only found within themontane forests of the island. It is possible that this species might also be found on the island ofVanua Levu, but these observations have not been corroborated.[7] It is the onlymegabat that isendemic to Fiji.[8]
Only six individuals of this species have ever been observed. While its cloud forest is within Taveuni Forest Reserve, this does little to protect the land, as the majority of Fiji's Forest Reserves have been converted tomahogany plantations.[5] It is listed as acritically endangered species due tohabitat loss. The population size is estimated at less than 1,000 individuals.[1] Due to its imperiled status, it is identified by theAlliance for Zero Extinction as a species in danger of imminentextinction.[9] In 2013,Bat Conservation International listed this species as one of the 35 species of its worldwide priority list of conservation.[10]Their habitat is being lost and fragmented by pollution, agriculture, extreme weather, and urbanization.Climate change is anticipated toshrink cloud forests worldwide, resulting in further habitat loss.[6]
