Pteropus speciosus, K. Andersen, 1908

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2019, Pteropodidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 16-162 : 142-143

149.

Philippine Gray Flying Fox

Pteropus speciosus

French: Roussette des Philippines / German: Grauer Philippinen-Flughund / Spanish: Zorro volador de Filipinas

Taxonomy. Pteropus speciosus K. Andersen, 1908 ,

“Malanipa Island, off [west coast of] Zamboanga,” Philippines .

Pteropus speciosus is in the griseus species group. Taxonomic status of mearnsi named by N. Hollister in 1913 requires research to clarify if it is a subspecies of P. hypomelanus or P. speciosus . Monotypic.

Distribution. Philippines, in S Mindanao (Mt Matumtum, Zamboanga Peninsula, and Malanipa I) and Sulu Archipelago (Basilan, Tawi-Tawi, Sanga-Sanga, and Sibutu Is), also in Talaud Is (Karakelong), off N Sulawesi, and Masalembu and Mata Siri Is, off S coast of Borneo.

Descriptive notes. Tailless, ear 25- 5 mm, hindfoot 35-39 mm, forearm 120-125 mm; weight 400 g. Greatest lengths of skulls are 57-61 mm and tibias 54 mm. The Philippine Gray Flying Fox is very similar to the Island Flying Fox ( P. hypomelanus ) but smaller, with more gracile skull. Ears are broad and rounded. Back is dark brown to blackish, with flecks of light gray. Chest and belly are orange-yellow to tawny. Fur is short and adpressed on back and humerus, with some longer hairs in middle of back. Tibia is naked. Base of fur is dark brown. Wing membranes are brown and attach near spine. Dark morph has seal-brown back and rump, with some light gray hairs; mantle is earthy brown that darkens around neck; and throat is blackish. Crown and sides of head are dark brown. Light morph is generally orange-buff; mantle is golden ocherous, with orange or buffy flecks of hair and pale shade of brown or cinnamon-rufous on chest. Light morph can look like a mix of colors of the Island Flying Fox subspecies tomesu and cagayanus, whereas dark morph resembles that of the western Island Flying Fox subspecies geminorum. Rostrum is somewhat laterally compressed and has noticeably smaller medial palate length (28- 5-29 mm) compared to the Island Flying Fox (30-35 mm) and smaller mandible (45-46 mm vs. 48-55 mm). Orbits are rather large. Postorbital processes are obvious; temporal ridges are fused to form a well-developed sagittal crest. Coronoid is moderate and somewhat sloping. Canines are distinctlyrecurved, with narrow but distinct cingulum around entire base. P' is reduced and minute, at times being lost in adults.

Habitat. Forests and mangroves. A colony of Philippine Gray Flying Foxes was recently found roosting in a tree in Panglima Sugala on Tawi-Tawi Island, suggesting it is some tolerant of human disturbance. It has also been recorded roosting in coconut palms.

Food and Feeding. Museum specimens of the Philippine Gray Flying Fox have rather worn-down teeth, suggesting a frugivorous diet.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. The Philippine Gray Flying Fox is nocturnal.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Colonies of Philippine Gray Flying Foxes contain ¢.2300 individuals (recent observations).

Status and Conservation. CITES Appendix II. Classified as Data Deficient on The [UCN Red List. The Philippine Gray Flying Fox is not sought after for bushmeat butis shot occasionally at for sport. Habitat loss is negative impact. It is restricted to very small oceanic islands in the Philippines and Indonesia, and it might qualify as Vulnerable. In the Philippines, the Wildlife Conservation and Protection Act, the National Integrated Protected Areas System, and the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas protect it from hunting in protected areas. Turtle Islands in Tawi-Tawi, where there have been recent sightings of Philippine Gray Flying Foxes, were protected in 1996.

Bibliography. Almeida et al. (2014), Andersen (1912b), Corbet & Hill (1992), Heaney et al. (1998), Hollister (1913b), Rosell-Ambal, Heaney & Helgen (2008), Simmons (2005).

Figures

144. Ornate Flying Fox (Pleropus ornatus), 145. Seram Flying Fox (Pteropus ocularis), 146. Great Flying Fox (Pteropus neohibernicus), 147. Wallacean Gray Flying Fox (Pleropus griseus), 148. Admiralty Flying Fox (Pteropus admiralitatum), 149. Philippine Gray Flying Fox (Pteropus speciosus), 150. Island Flying Fox (Pleropus hypomelanus), 151. Black-eared Flying Fox (Pteropus melanotus), 152. Black Flying Fox (Pleropus alecto), 153. Spectacled Flying Fox (Pteropus conspicillatus), 154. Geelvink Bay Flying Fox (Pteropus pohlei), 155. Marianas Flying Fox (Pteropus mariannus), 156. Palau Flying Fox (Pteropus pelewensis), 157. Pacific Flying Fox (Pteropus tonganus), 158. Kosrae Flying Fox (Pteropus ualanus), 159. Nicobar Flying Fox (Pteropus faunulus), 160. Ontong Java Flying Fox (Pteropus howensis)

Distribution. Philippines , in S Mindanao (Mt Matumtum, Zamboanga Peninsula, and Malanipa I) and Sulu Archipelago (Basilan, Tawi-Tawi, Sanga-Sanga, and Sibutu Is), also in Talaud Is (Karakelong), off N Sulawesi, and Masalembu and Mata Siri Is, off S coast of Borneo.