Object Status:
Unlocated
Accession Date:
June 6, 1823
Primary Source Reference:
Peale Museum Accessions Book, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, p. 123
Additional Source Text:
Peale Museum Accessions Book, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, 27 Dec 1824 (p. 125) adds: "died this day (18 months)."
Notes:
Linnaeus's Vespertilio vampyrus is now the large flying fox (Pteropus vampyrus). Because it is not found in India, the Museum's specimen was likely the Indian flying fox (Pteropus giganteus or Pteropus medius), India's largest bat and one of the largest bats in the world, weighing up to 1.6 kg (3.5 lb) with a wingspan ranging from 1.2-1.5 m (3 ft 11 in-4 ft 11 in).
Specimen Type:
Living/Live (presumably eventually taxidermied/preserved)
Peale's Common Name:
Ternate Bat
Peale's Scientific Name:
Vespertilio vampyrus
Current Common Name:
Indian flying fox
Current Scientific Name
Pteropus giganteus
