Tooth wear, body mass index and management options for edentulous black flying-foxes (Pteropus alecto Gould) in the Townsville district, north Queensland, Australia.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: We investigated the relationship between a body mass index and tooth wear in the black flying-fox (Pteropus alecto Gould) to provide guidance on management of edentulous individuals by wildlife carers and veterinarians. METHODS: Flying-foxes brought into care because of injury were weighed, their forearms measured and the state of their teeth evaluated. Measurements were analysed by Chi-square, ANOVA, t-tests and regression to identify any relationship between the body mass index and the condition of canine and molar teeth, as well as in relation to sex and season. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant relationship between a bat's dentition state and the body mass index being used. CONCLUSIONS: In Townsville, the black flying-fox appears to experience a rapid decline in dental condition over time. Despite this, there is little indication that loss of teeth results in a decline in body condition. We attribute this to the dominance of floral foods in the bats' diet in Townsville and a lesser importance of hard fruit that requires intact dentition for consumption. Edentulousness on its own is not sufficient reason to euthanase black flying-foxes in either Townsville or similar relatively dry localities where blossom dominates the flying-fox diet.