Head to head
Marianas Flying Fox vs Rodrigues Flying Fox
Marianas Flying Fox
VS Rodrigues Flying Fox
The Marianas flying fox and Rodrigues flying fox are both Endangered fruit bats of remote ocean islands, but one is still falling in number while the other has bounced back from the brink.
| Marianas Flying Fox | Rodrigues Flying Fox | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Pteropus mariannus | Pteropus rodricensis |
| Home | The Mariana Islands and nearby islands in the western Pacific | Rodrigues Island, part of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean |
| Activity | Sometimes seen flying in daylight as well as at night | Roosts in groups in trees by day and feeds at night |
| Human pressure | Hunted for food, which has driven big declines | Not specifically documented |
| Storms and forest | Typhoons strip island forest, and forests are cleared | Cyclones strip fruit and trees from the small island |
| Population trend | Declined sharply, and gone or rare on some of its islands | Recovered from fewer than a hundred in the 1970s to many thousands |
| Cultural role | Known as the fanihi, a traditional food and cultural symbol | The only native mammal left on the island |
| Conservation status | Endangered, with a decreasing population | Endangered, with an increasing population |
Marianas Flying Fox vs Rodrigues Flying Fox: common questions
Which flying fox has recovered?
The Rodrigues flying fox, which recovered from fewer than a hundred in the 1970s to many thousands through protection and captive breeding.
What is the fanihi?
Fanihi is the Chamorro name for the Marianas flying fox, a fruit bat of the Mariana Islands.
Where do the Marianas and Rodrigues flying foxes live?
The Marianas flying fox lives in the Mariana Islands and nearby western Pacific islands, while the Rodrigues flying fox lives only on Rodrigues Island in the Indian Ocean.