The Guadalcanal monkey-faced bat or Guadalcanal flying monkey (Pteralopex atrata) is a megabat endemic to Solomon Islands. It is listed as an endangered species. In 2013, Bat Conservation International listed this species as one of the 35 species of its worldwide priority list of conservation. Taxonomy and etymology It was the first species of its genus, the monkey-faced bats, to be described. It was described by British zoologist Oldfield Thomas in 1888, based on a specimen that had been collected by British naturalist Charles Morris Woodford. Woodford collected the holotype in Aola Bay of Guadalcanal Island, which is a part of the Solomon Islands. While they were both initially described as distinct species, the Guadalcanal monkey-faced bat was considered synonymous with the Bougainville monkey-faced bat from 1954–1978. At present, they are again both considered full species. Its species name atrata is derived from the Latin word atratus, meaning "clothed in black". In his initial description of the species, Thomas noted that its fur was almost uniformly black. Description It weighs . It has thick and fluffy fur that almost entirely conceals their ears. Ears are small, round, and sparsely furred. Ears are long and wide. Like all members of its genus, its iris is red. Its color is mostly black, though its wings are occasionally mottled white., Individual hairs on its back are long. Its wings attach at the spine, unlike many species of bats where wing attachment is more lateral. It has very large upper incisors and thick upper canines. Uniquely, its upper canine is double-cusped. It lacks a tail. Its forearm is approximately . Its hind foot is long, and its calcar is long. From nose to tail, it is . It has an unusually high sagittal crest. Its dental formula is , for a total of 34 teeth. Biology It is infrequently encountered, and thus little is known about its biology. It was once observed eating unripe mangos. During the day, it likely roosts in hollow trees. It is a known host of bat flies, which are ectoparasites. Specifically, the bat fly species Cyclopodia macracantha macracantha has been found on the Guadalcanal monkey-faced bat. Range and habitat It was initially discovered on Guadalcanal Island, and has also been reported on New Georgia Island. It was once reported on Santa Isabel Island in 1931, but this was actually a greater monkey-faced bat that had been misidentified. It has