Photo courtesy of National Geographic

The Mindoro Flying Fox (Styloctenium Mindorensis), also known as the Mindoro stripe-faced fruit bat, is an unusual species recently (2006) discovered on Mindoro, not long after it was said not to exist. This cute fellow is actually a fruit bat.

He’s a pretty big size, has bright orange fur and distinctive white stripes across its brow and jaw. The animal is now known as .

Population is very poorly known and is so far known from only four specimens. The four specimens were collected at the edge of selectively logged lowland forest and an open field with a few guava trees.

It is not yet known to what extent this species is dependent on forest.

Threat

If this species is dependent of lowland forest, then its population must have been seriously reduced due to habitat loss. However, at this stage, the precise threats to the species are not clear.

It is not so far known from any protected areas. Further work is needed to determine the distribution, abundance, ecological requirements, threats and conservation needs of this species. Listed as Data Deficient since it has only recently been discovered, and there is still very little information on its extent of occurrence, status and ecological requirements.

*Source: National Geographic