Nesonycteris woodfordi, Thomas, 1887

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2019, Pteropodidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 16-162 : 130

126.

Woodford’s Blossom Bat

Nesonycteris woodfordi

French: Mélonyctére de Woodford / German: Woodford-Blitenflughund / Spanish: Melonicterio de Woodford

Other common names: \ Voodford's Fruit Bat

Taxonomy. Nesonycteris woodfordi Thomas, 1887 ,

“Shortland and Fauro Islands, western part of Solomon group [= Islands].”

Nesonycteris woodfordi and N. fardoulisi might not be reciprocally monophyletic, with N. f. schouteni being closest to N. w. woodfordi . Relationship between them needs to be addressed with robust molecular and morphometric data; thorough revision of Nesonycteris is needed. Two subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution. N.w.woodfordiThomas,1887—SolomonIs(Buka,Bougainville,Shortlands,Fauro,Choiseul,andSantaIsabel).

N. w. aurantius C. J. Phillips, 1966 — Solomon Is (Nggela).

Descriptive notes. Head—-body 80-106 mm (tailless), ear 10-16 mm, hindfoot 14- 4— 23 mm, forearm 48-59 mm; weight 25-50 g. Subspecies aurantiusis smaller than nominate woodfordi and has distinct cranial measurements. Head is elongated, and rostrum is long, with tubular nostrils. Ears are relatively short and bluntly pointed; eyes are large, with dark brown irises. Dorsal pelage is orange to cinnamon, with pale russet head and nape; ventral pelage is pale grayish brown. Wings are black, with white on and surrounding digits; second digit is missing characteristic claw of most pteropodids. Uropatagium is extremely underdeveloped and barely present along inner leg down to ankle. Claws are brown, with white tips. Skull has long and narrow rostrum, with less well-developed (or completely absent in subspecies aurantius) sagittal crest in males unlike in Fardoulis’s Blossom Bat (N. fardoulisi ). 1, is missing, P is larger than M,, and molars and premolars are largely reduced and flattened.

Habitat. Primary tropical forests but commonly secondary forests, rural gardens, and coconut plantations from sea level up to elevations of ¢. 1100 m.

Food and Feeding. Woodford’s Blossom Batis nectarivorous, probably feeding mostly on nectar, pollen, and occasionally soft fruit.

Breeding. Lactating and pregnant Woodford’s Blossom Bats have been captured in February-March, May, July, September, and November, suggesting year-round breeding. Litters have one young. Apparently, females never carry dependent young, leaving them in roosts.

Activity patterns. Woodford’s Blossom Bats are nocturnal, and day roosts are in foliage.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Woodford’s Blossom Bats seem to roost alone or in small groups and have relatively small home ranges.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List (as Melonycteris woodfordi ). Woodford’s Blossom Bat is poorly known but seems to tolerate human disturbance. Threats are not currently known, but commercial logging might be a threat.

Bibliography. Bonaccorso (1998), Flannery (1993, 1995a), Giannini & Simmons (2007a), Lavery (2017b), Phillips (1966), Pulvers & Colgan (2007).

Figures

114. Fijian Long-tailed Fruit Bat (Notopteris macdonald), 115. New Caledonia Long-tailed Fruit Bat (Notopteris neocaledonicus), 116. White-winged Flying Fox (Desmalopex leucopterus), 117. Mindoro Pallid Flying Fox (Desmalopex microleucopterus), 118. Fijizan Monkey-faced Fruit Bat Marimar (: acrodonta), 119. Bougainville Monkey-faced Fruit Bat (Pteralopex anceps), 120. Guadalcanal Monkey-faced Fruit Bat (Pleralopex atrata), 121. Montane Monkey-faced Fruit Bat (Pleralopex pulchra), 122. New Georgia Monkey-faced Fruit Bat (Pleralopex taki), 123. Greater Monkey-faced Fruit Bat (Pleralopex flanneryi), 124. Black-bellied Blossom Bat (Melonycteris melanops), 125. Fardoulis’s Blossom Bat (Nesonycteris fardoulis), 126. Woodford’s Blossom Bat (Nesonycteris woodfordi)

Subspecies and Distribution. N.w.woodfordiThomas,1887—SolomonIs(Buka,Bougainville,Shortlands,Fauro,Choiseul,andSantaIsabel). N. w. aurantius C. J. Phillips, 1966 — Solomon Is (Nggela).