Acerodon humilis, K. Andersen, 1909

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2019, Pteropodidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 16-162 : 134

131.

Talaud Flying Fox

Acerodon humilis

French: Acérodon des Talaud / German: Talaud-Flughund / Spanish: Zorro volador de Talaud

Other common names: Talaud Acerodon, Talaud Fruit Bat

Taxonomy. Acerodon humilis K. Andersen, 1909 ,

“Lirong, Talaud Islands,” Indonesia.

This species is monotypic.

Distribution. Only known from Salebabu and Karakelong in the Talaud Is.

Descriptive notes. Tailless, ear 24 mm, hindfoot 46 mm, forearm 140 mm, greatest length of skull 63 mm, tibia 57 mm (holotype). Ears of the Talaud Flying Fox have rounded tips and are shorter than muzzle. Dentition, ears, and color of head and body are similar to the Golden-capped Flying Fox (A. jubatus ), but the Talaud Flying Fox is smaller and has no buffy nuchal patch. Throat is blackish seal-brown, with some silvery hairs mixed in. K. Andersen in 1912 noted that external features resemble co-occurring Sulawesian subspecies of the Island Flying Fox ( Pteropus hypomelanus macassaricus) and ears are similar in shape to the Island Flying Fox instead of long, subacutely pointed ears of other species of Acerodon . T. F. Flannery in 1995 suggested that the holotype had a mismatched skull, although this remains unclear and more research is needed. Russet color of mantle, sides of neck, and fore neck does not extend to crown, chest, or body. Uropatagium is reduced; calcar is small. Skull is typical pteropine, similar to that of the Sulawesi Flying Fox (A. celebensis ) but with lower rostrum and smaller orbits.

Habitat. Suspected to be forest-dependent. The Talaud Islands consist of subtropical and tropical swamp forests.

Food and Feeding. The Talaud Flying Fox is presumably frugivorous.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. Talaud Flying Foxes are nocturnal.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. CITES Appendix II. Classified as Endangered on The IUCN Red List. The Talaud Flying Fox has a very restricted distribution and is known only from two islands, Salebabu and Karakelong. Forest habitat is severely fragmented due to logging. Its extent of occurrence is only ¢. 1500 km? and it has no legal protections.

Bibliography. Andersen (1912b), Corbet & Hill (1992), Flannery (1995a), Mildenstein (2016e), Riley (2002).

Figures

127. Wallace's Stripe-faced Fruit Bat (Styloctenium wallacei), 128. Mindoro Stripe-faced Fruit Bat (Styloctenium mindorensis), 129. Small-toothed Fruit Bat (Neopteryx frosti), 130. Sulawesi Flying Fox (Acerodon celebensis), 131. Talaud Flying Fox (Acerodon humilis), 132. Golden-capped Flying Fox (Acerodon jubatus), 133. Palawan Flying Fox (Acerodon leucotis), 134. Sunda Flying Fox (Acerodon macklotii), 135. Moluccan Masked Flying Fox (Pleropus personatus), 136. Lombok Flying Fox (Pteropus lombocensus), 137. Little Red Flying Fox (Pteropus scapulatus), 138. Big-eared Flying Fox (Pteropus macrotis), 139. Gilliard’s Flying Fox (Pteropus gilliardorum), 140. Sanborn’s Flying Fox (Pleropus mahaganus), 141. Dwarf Flying Fox (Pteropus woodfordi), 142. Pohnpei Flying Fox (Pteropus molossinus), 143. Chuuk Flying Fox (Pteropus pelagicus)

Distribution. Only known from Salebabu and Karakelong in the Talaud Is.