Lesser Guam Flying Fox (Pteropus tokudae)  

The Lesser Guam Flying Fox was found exclusively on the island of Guam, Marianna Islands; it shared its habitat with another flying fox species, the Larger Marianas Flying Fox (Pteropus mariannus Desmarest), which survives to this day. 

The locals of the island considered both species, which they both called fanihi, as a delicacy and therefore hunted them in large numbers, which ultimately became fatal to the smaller of the two species. 

The last two specimens were seen in 1967 or 1968, a female and a juvenile, the female was shot, the juvenile escaped. 

All that remains of this species are two specimens (see photo).

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The Lesser Guam Flying Fox was most closely related to the Chuuk Flying Fox (Pteropus pelagicus Kittlitz), which is common on some atolls and islands of the Chuuk Archipelago in Micronesia.

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edited: 26.02.2024