Pteropus macrotis, Peters, 1867

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2019, Pteropodidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 16-162 : 137

138.

Big-eared Flying Fox

Pteropus macrotis

French: Roussette a grandes oreilles / German: Grofsohrflughund / Spanish: Zorro volador orejudo

Other common names: Large-eared Flying Fox

Taxonomy. Pteropus macrotis Peters, 1867 ,

Wokam Island, Aru Islands, Indonesia.

Pteropus macrotis is currently in the pelagicus species group. Two subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution.

P.m.macrotisPeters,1867—AruIs(Indo-nesia).

P. m. epularius Ramsay, 1878 — New Guinea and Raja Ampat Is (Salawati). Also sightings and photographs in Australian Boigu Is, but voucher specimens are needed for confirmation.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 179-244 mm (tailless), ear 28-37 mm, hindfoot 36- 2— 55 mm, forearm 112-157 mm; weight 214-480 g. Greatest lengths of skulls are 56— 64- 7 mm. Dark brown face sprinkled with silvery hairs on forehead variably forming spots or stripes. Mantle is pale yellow, and middle of neck is reddish yellow. Back, throat, chest, and belly are dark brown to black. Forearm and lower leg is naked in front. Dorsally, hair extends to first one-third of forearm and on one-half of lower leg. Shoulders and lumbar region have long woolly hair. Attachment points of wing membranes in lumbar region are separated by c. 12 mm. Wings attach to first joint of second toe. Index finger has claw. Skull is relatively flat between orbits, and braincase is slightly elongated and rounded posteriorly. Zygomatic arch is weak and low. Zygomatic process of upper jaw at base is very extended from front to back. Lower incisors are double lobed, and molars are small and bicuspid.

Habitat. Wide variety of lowland landscapes including primary and secondary moist forests, monsoon and dry forests, savanna woodlands, mangrove forests, plantations, and rural gardens from sea level up to elevations of ¢. 500 m. The Big-eared Flying Fox might prefer drier habitats for foraging than other flying fox species.

Food and Feeding. Some Big-eared Flying Foxes were caught eating flowers of coconut palms. Two individuals were caught near a jackfruit tree ( Artocarpus heterophyllus, Moraceae ).

Breeding. One pair of Big-eared Flying Foxes was observed copulating in a coconut palm in April. A pregnant female was captured in October, a female with dependent offspring in January, and young in March—July. One young made its first flight 184 days after birth and ate fruit independently; consequently, weaning takes place with six months.

Activity patterns. Big-eared Flying Foxes are nocturnal and probably rest in trees (e.g. mangrove trees) during the day, flying to foraging areas at dusk.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. There are observations of flights of more than 12 km between New Guinea and Boigu Island. Big-eared Flying Foxes probably roost in colonies.

Status and Conservation. CITES Appendix II. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. The Big-eared Flying Fox is still relatively common in most of its distribution and is found in several protected areas. In some areas, it is hunted for food, but effects of hunting are unknown. There are no reports of other threats, and its population is currently considered stable.

Bibliography. Almeida et al. (2014), Bonaccorso (1998), Flannery (1995a, 1995b), Hall (2008a), Helgen (2004), Helgen, Salas, Hamilton & Hall (2008), Jackson & Groves (2015), McKean (1972), Mickleburgh et al. (1992), Peters (1868a), Rainey & Pierson (1992), Ramsay (1878), Simmons (2005).

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)

Subspecies and Distribution. P.m.macrotisPeters,1867—AruIs(Indo-nesia). P. m. epularius Ramsay, 1878 — New Guinea and Raja Ampat Is (Salawati). Also sightings and photographs in Australian Boigu Is, but voucher specimens are needed for confirmation.