WHO RULES THE SKY ON THODDOO?
Although you can see several species of birds on Thoddoo Island, don’t expect the king of the sky to be a representative of the bird kingdom! It is a mammal, the “Indian Flying Fox” (Pteropus giganteus). It is one of the largest aircraft in the world, 0.6-1.6 kg at maturity, measuring only 15-22 cm long, but with a respectable wingspan. It is one of the world’s largest species of flycatcher, weighing about 1.2-1.5 m.
The Indian Flying Fox includes four subspecies: Pteropus giganteus giganteus, Pteropus giganteus leucocephalus, Pteropus giganteus ariel and Pteropus giganteus chinghaiensis
Which one lives in Thoddoo? It appears to be a subspecies of Pteropus giganteus ariel. Pteropus hypomelanus has also been described in the Maldives but is an endangered species in this area.
(Source: Wikipedia)
