Madagascar flying foxes' skulls have shrunk by 6 per cent
Researchers suggest increased commercial hunting pressure may be linked to the declining physical size of the Malagasy flying fox species.
Researchers have found that the skulls of the Malagasy flying fox have become approximately 6 per cent smaller over the last four decades, according to a Times of India report. The study, published in the Journal of Mammalogy on October 29, 2026, suggests a possible link between this shrinking size and increased hunting pressure.
The research team, led by Emily Cornelius Ruhs and Steven Goodman of Chicago's Field Museum, examined 121 preserved specimens from nine natural history museums in the United States and Europe. These specimens covered more than 150 years of the species' history.
The analysis showed that skulls from specimens collected before the 1980s were, on average, 3.6 millimetres longer than those from later decades. Scientists suspect that larger bats may have been targeted more frequently for hunting because they provide more meat.
While the study shows a strong association between commercial hunting and smaller skull sizes, researchers noted that other factors could contribute. These include deforestation, shifts in fruit availability, and changing climatic conditions.
The Malagasy flying fox is a fruit-eating mammal that helps maintain forest ecosystems through seed dispersal and pollination. The researchers stated that further monitoring and stronger protection, especially near breeding sites, will be necessary to safeguard the species.