O’SHEA, CRYAN & BOGAN: UNITED STATES BAT SPECIES OF CONCERN 
9 
Species Accounts: The Territories 
Pteropus samoensis — Samoan Flying Fox (Family Pteropodidae) 
Conservation Status. — National and International Designations: U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service (1994, 1996a,b): Species of Concern (inactive, former Category 2 candidate for listing 
under the U.S. Endangered Species Act). Listed in CITES Appendix I (Convention on Internation¬ 
al Trade of Wild Flora and Fauna, 2016). International Union for the Conservation of Nature 
(2017): Near Threatened. 
Territorial Designation: American Samoa Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources 
(Utzurrum et al., 2006): Conservation Status II (High Priority), legally protected. 
Description. — The 
Samoan flying fox (Fig. 1) has a 
dorsum that is generally dark 
brown interspersed with numer¬ 
ous long silver hairs, with a 
lighter colored mantle (Banack, 
2001). The venter is various 
shades of brown with inter¬ 
spersed yellow hairs, the top of 
the head is pale yellow, and the 
mantle can be red, orange, or yel¬ 
low (Flannery, 1995; Banack, 
2001). However, individual vari¬ 
ation in general coloration ranges 
from reddish brown to blackish 
gray (Banack, 2001). Forearm 
measurements range from about 125 to 155 millimeters, and body mass ranges 240 to 440 grams 
(including volant juveniles; Banack and Grant, 2003). These bats are sympatric with only one other 
fruit bat, the Pacific flying fox ( Pteropus tonganus ), and both are of similar size: adult Samoan fly¬ 
ing foxes average 379 grams, whereas adult Pacific flying foxes average 428 grams (Banack, 
1998). However, Pacific flying foxes have a black back, bright yellow mantle, and longer snout. 
Distribution and Systematics. — In American Samoa, documented records exist for the 
Manu'a Islands (Ta'u and Ofu), Swain’s Island, and Tutuila (Fig. 2; Flannery, 1995). In the inde¬ 
pendent nation of Samoa, this bat is known from Savai'i and 'Upolu, and in Fiji from Nanuya, 
Ovalau, Taveuni, Vanua Levu, and Viti Levu. Fossil records exist for the island of Eua in Tonga, 
where it is now considered extinct (Flannery, 1995). 
Two subspecies are recognized in the Pacific Islands, Pteropus samoensis samoensis from the 
Samoa Islands (the former Category 2 candidate in American Samoa) and P. samoensis nawaien- 
sis from Fiji (Flannery, 1995; Banack, 2001). Banack (2001) provided a complete taxonomic syn¬ 
onymy of past scientific names applied to the Samoan flying fox. The generic name Pteropus stems 
from Greek words for “wing” and “foot”. The specific epithet is based on geography. Other Eng¬ 
lish common names are Samoa flying fox and Samoan fruit bat. The Samoan names are pe’a or 
pe’a vao. 
Habitats. — Samoan flying foxes occupy mature primary rain forest. Details on foraging and 
roosting habitats are provided below. 
Foraging and Dietary Anauysis. — Samoan flying foxes feed on a variety of fruits, flow¬ 
ers, and leaves and forage during the day as well as during the night. Foraging areas of two bats 
Figure 1. Samoan flying fox, Pteropus samoensis (photo by Frida Fjell- 
strom). 
