Pteropus cognatus, 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 : 152

170.

Makira Flying Fox

Pteropus cognatus

French: Roussette de Makira / German: Makira-Flughund / Spanish: Zorro volador de Makira

Other common names: Dusky Flying Fox

Taxonomy. Pteropus cognatus K. Andersen, 1908 ,

“San Christoval [= San Cristobal Island], S.E. Solomon Islands.”

Pteropus cognatus is often considered a subspecies of P. raynen. It is related to P. rayneri and P. rennelli of the samoensis species group but clearly distinct. Monotypic. Distribution. E Solomon Is on Makira (= San Cristobal), Ugi, and Santa Ana.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 166- 180 mm (tailless), ear 21-23 mm, hindfoot 30-35 mm, forearm 121-129 mm; weight 288 g (mean). Muzzle is short and broad; rhinarium is black. Eyes have light brown irises. Ears are exposed and narrowly rounded at tips. Head is brown, sometimes interspersed with gray hairs, and crown and sides of head are similar to back. Mantle is cinnamon, tinged with russet, and neck glands have buff-yellow hairs. Hairs of back are adpressed. Back and rump hairs are bicolored, with seal-brown bases and buffy brown tips, and dark brown overall. Tibia is furred above. Ventrum changes from buffy russet on neck to seal-brown along chest and belly. Wing membranes are dark grayish brown and originate slightly above medial plane. Skull differs from typical pteropine in its short and broad rostrum, front of orbitis vertically above posterior one-half of P*, and zygomatic arches are relatively strong. Mandible is heavy posteriorly. M, is reduced in size, and cingulum of C' and C, is strong, forming broad ledges.

Habitat. Lowland forests and gardens at sea level into montane forest at elevations of ¢. 900 m.

Food and Feeding. The Makira Flying Fox is common in village gardens and feeds on Artocarpus altilis ( Moraceae ).

Breeding. One Makira Flying Fox captured near sea level in November was nursing a 90-g young, and another female captured in July was nulliparous.

Activity patterns. Makira Flying Foxes are nocturnal.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. The Makira Flying Fox roosts alone.

Status and Conservation. CITES Appendix II. Classified as Vulnerable on The IUCN Red List. Extent of occurrence of the Makira Flying Fox is ¢. 6000 km?, and there is continuing decline in quality of its habitat due to widespread commercial logging on Makira. It is regularly hunted for food, and a majority of Makira residents believe it is declining.

Bibliography. Almeida et al. (2014), Andersen (1912b), Flannery (1995a), Lavery (2017), Lavery & Fasi (2017).

Figures

161. New Britain Masked Flying Fox (Pleropus capistratus), 162. New Ireland Masked Flying Fox (Pleropus ennisae), 163. New Caledonia Flying Fox (Pteropus vetula), 164. Common Samoan Flying Fox (Pteropus samoensis), 165. Banks Flying Fox (Pteropus fundatus), 166. Vanuatu Flying Fox (Pleropus anetianus), 167. Vanikoro Flying Fox (Pleropus tuberculatus), 168. Temotu Flying Fox (Pteropus nitendiensis), 169. Solomons Flying Fox (Pteropus rayneri), 170. Makira Flying Fox (Pteropus cognatus), 171. Rennell Flying Fox (Pteropus rennelli), 172. Temminck’s Flying Fox (Pteropus temminckui), 173. Gray-headed Flying Fox (Pteropus poliocephalus)

Pteropus cognatus is often considered a subspecies of P. raynen. It is related to P. rayneri and P. rennelli of the samoensis species group but clearly distinct. Monotypic. Distribution. E Solomon Is on Makira (= San Cristobal ), Ugi, and Santa Ana.