Megaerops kusnotoi, Hill & Boeadi, 1978

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2019, Pteropodidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 16-162 : 63

2.

Javan Tailless Fruit Bat

Megaerops kusnotoi

French: Cynoptere de Kusnoto / German: Java-Altwelt-Fruchtfledermaus / Spanish: Megaerop de Kusnoto

Taxonomy. Megaerops kusnoto: Hill & Boeadi, 1978 ,

“Hanjuang Ciletuh, Lengkong, south Sukabumi, west Java [ Indonesia], 700 m.”

This species is monotypic.

Distribution. W & E Java, Bali, and Lombok Is.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 58.2—75-5 mm (tailless), ear 11-1-15-2 mm, forearm 49-53-6 mm; weight 19-9 g. Muzzle of the Javan Tailless Fruit Batis broad, swollen, ridged, hairless, very short, moderately deep, and etremely wide. Nostrils are tubular, with their bases and rims grossly swollen; philtrum is pronounced. Flap runs over lower lip from philtrum to passing middle length of lip, where it connects with vertical crescent ridge running from lip to back of nostrils, forming posterior margin of swollen lateral surface of muzzle. Pits occur on skin behind nostrils. Large pads occur on lower lip. Eyes are moderately large and bulging; iris is warm brown. Ears are moderately long, oval, and pale brown, with darker rim and small triangular antitragus lobe. Pelage is thin and moderately short, light gray suffused with brown on cap and faint yellow on shoulder. Hair is longer on nape and shoulders. Dorsal hairs have gray bases and long light brown tips, extending pass rump. Uropatagium is well developed along tibia and narrow in center, and calcar is small. Throat and chest are sparsely haired. Ventral pelage is gray and shorter than on dorsum. Dense woolly hairs extend to base of forearm. Wing membranes are grayish brown, thumb is long, and index claw is present, inserted on side of soft body and attached to first toe. Skull lacks basicranial deflection; rostrum is very short and moderately deep; nasals and premaxillae project forward as a short tube, but not exceeding canine; orbitis large but not surpassing dorsal profile of skull; braincase is rounded; anterior root of zygomais slightly above alveolar line; and zygoma is thin and gently arched,slightly bowed in dorsal view. Paranasal recesses are barely inflated, not reaching postorbital foramen; postorbital process is thin and projects posterolaterally. Palate is flat; post-dental extension is long, ends straight, and has no spine; and mesopterygoid fossa is flat. Ectotympanic is wide, and entotympanic is present along medial side of ectotympanic. Upper dentition has small and simple incisors, C' is small and slightly decurved, P' is a spicule, and posterior cheekteeth decrease in height. Lower dentition has small I, crowded between canines (I, absent), C, is small and little decurved, P, is peg-like, next premolar P,) is tall and simple, posterior teeth decrease in size, and M, is almost peg-like. There are nine palatal ridges that are arched, undivided, and rather thick, plus two thin ridges near end of post-dental palate, divided medially.

Habitat. Western Java montane rainforest, Eastern Java-Bali montane rainforest, and Lesser Sundas deciduous forests.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. No information.

Activity patterns. No information.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Vulnerable on The IUCN Red List. The Javan Tailless Fruit Bat is uncommon, and population trend is decreasing, chiefly due to habitat loss from logging and mining activities. Population is divided among three islands, but these are adjacent.

Bibliography. Giannini & Simmons (2007a), Hill & Boeadi (1978), Hutson, Suyanto & Kingston (2008), Jones, Bielby et al. (2009), Maharadatunkamsi & Maryanto (2002).

Figures

1. Temminck’s Tailless Fruit Bat (Megaerops ecaudatus), 2. Javan Tailless Fruit Bat (Megaerops kusnotoi), 3. Ratanaworabhan’s Tailless Fruit Bat (Megaerops niphanae), 4. White-collared Fruit Bat (Megaerops albicollis), 5. Greater Short-nosed Fruit Bat (Cynopterus sphinx), 6. Lesser Short-nosed Fruit Bat (Cynopterus brachyotis), 7. Horsfield’s Short-nosed Fruit Bat (Cynopterus horsfieldui), 8. Peters’s Short-nosed Fruit Bat (Cynoplerus luzoniensis), 9. Minute Short-nosed Fruit Bat (Cynopterus minutus), 10. Nusatenggara Short-nosed Fruit Bat (Cynopterus nusatenggara), 11. Indonesian Short-nosed Fruit Bat (Cynoplerus titthaecheilus), 12. Lesser Musky Fruit Bat (Ptenochirus minor), 13. Greater Musky Fruit Bat (Plenochirus jagorn), 14. Mindanao Fruit Bat (Ptenochirus wetmorei)

Distribution. W & E Java, Bali, and Lombok Is.