Rousettus celebensis, K. Andersen, 1907

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2019, Pteropodidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 16-162 : 87

45.

Sulawesi Rousette

Rousettus celebensis

French: Roussette de Sulawesi / German: Sulawesi-Flughund / Spanish: Rosetus de Célebes

Other common names: Sulawesian Rousette

Taxonomy. Rousettus celebensis K. Andersen, 1907 ,

“Mt. Masarang, Celebes [= Sulawesi, Indonesia], 3500’ [= 1067 m].”

This species is monotypic.

Distribution. Sulawesi and nearby Is (Togian, Peleng, Wowoni, Buton, Kabaena, and Tukangbesi), also on Sangihe Is (Sangihe, Siau, Tagulandang) and Sula Is (Mangole, Sanana).

Descriptive notes. Head-body 88-5- 109- 9 mm, tail 23- 1-30 mm, ear 16-819- 7 mm, hindfoot 22- 5-23 mm, forearm 71-8-80- 2 mm; weight 64-91 g. The Sulawesi Rousette can be distinguished from its congeners by narrow bony palate and unusually narrow upper and lower last premolars and molars. Fur is longer and richer in color than in other eastern congeners; uropatagium is partly or wholly haired. Rostrum is very low, slender, and relatively longer, with longer upper and lower tooth rows and smaller average distance between the two M*. It is generally brown but brighter colored than Geoffroy’s Rousette ( R. amplexicaudatus ). Ears are as in Geoffroy’s Rousette: not attenuated below tips, which are broadly rounded, with reduced or obsolete antitragal lobe. Tail is long, digits are proportionally longer than in any other eastern species of Rousettus , and pollex is much longer. Wing inserts at or near rear of second toe and is relatively large, with low wing loading that enables Sulawesi Rousettes to carry heavy fruits. Uropatagium, face, and tibia are furred; forearms,tibia, and uropatagium have long hair. In North Sulawesi, specimens are slightly bright yellowish on chest and belly and dark orange on neck. Glandular gray brown tuft occurs on each side of neck in both sexes. Glans penis is flattened and triangular. Tooth rows are nearly parallel (vs. posterior divergence in Geoffroy’s Rousette). Premaxillae are in simple contact in front; bony palate is unusually narrow posteriorly. Interorbital region is flat, temporal fossa is narrow, and temporal lines form low sagittal crest in fully mature individuals. Palatal ridges are arranged in a 4 + 3 + 1 pattern. C' and P?® are widely separated, and P! is located in center of interspace between these two teeth and is not deciduous. M, 1s at least twice as long as broad; M, 1s small, less than one-half the size of M,; and M,is subcircular in outline. P is 3-4 times the size of lower incisor. Last premolaris longer than in Geoffroy’s Rousette, and upper and lower molars are narrow and also longer than in Geoffroy’s Rousette, especially M.

Habitat. Lowland and lower mountain habitats, including lower montane forests, swamp forests, marshes, lowland forests, mixed gardens, and degraded forest, from sea level up to elevations of 1400 m (more commonly 300-1400 m). In Tangkoko Batuangus Nature Reserve (North Sulawesi), the Sulawesi Rousette was recorded in moss forests, submontane forests, lowland forests, Casuarina (Casuarinaceae) forests, coastal forests, and shrubland.

Food and Feeding. The Sulawesi Rousette is likely a generalist frugivore, but narrow muzzle and teeth also suggest use of flowers. An individual caught in mist net with a fruit of Gonystylus macrophyllus ( Thymelaeaceae ) suggests that it feeds on this fruit and contributesto its dispersal.

Breeding. Pregnant and lactating Sulawesi Rousettes with dependent young were recorded in November.

Activity patterns. The Sulawesi Rousette is almost certainly nocturnal, emerging from caves at dusk and returning before dawn. It roosts in caves and large hollowed trees. In Tangkoko Batuangus Nature Reserve, it was caught during rainy and dry seasons with mist nets at ground level.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. The Sulawesi Rousette roosts gregariously.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. The Sulawesi Rousette is abundant in most of its distribution, and extent of occurrence is greater than 20,000 km ®. Nevertheless,it is locally threatened by hunting, habitat loss, and cave disturbance.

Bibliography. Bergmans & Rozendaal (1988), Corbet & Hill (1992), Flannery (1995a), Hill (1983), Kevan & Gaskell (1986), Maryanto & Yani (2003), Rookmaaker & Bergmans (1981), Ruedas, Kingston, Sinaga & Maharadatunkamsi (2008).

Figures

32. Zenker’s Fruit Bat (Scotonycteris zenkeri), 33. Hayman’s Fruit Bat (Scotonycteris occidentalis), 34. Bergmans’s Fruit Bat (Scotonycteris bergmansi), 35. Short-palated Fruit Bat (Casinycteris argynnas), 36. Pohle’s Fruit Bat (Casinycteris ophiodon), 37. Campo-Ma’an Fruit Bat (Casinycteris campomaanensis), 38. Lesser Dawn Bat (Eonycteris spelaea), 39. Greater Dawn Bat (Eonycteris major), 40. Philippine Dawn Bat (Eonycteris robusta), 41. Geoffroy’s Rousette (Rousettus amplexicaudatus), 42. Bare-backed Rousette (Rousettus spinalatus), 43. Leschenault’s Rousette (Rousettus leschenaultin), 44. Linduan Rousette (Rousettus linduensis), 45. Sulawesi Rousette (Rousettus celebensis), 46. Egyptian Rousette (Rousettus aegyptiacus), 47. Malagasy Rousette (Rousettus madagascariensis), 48. Comoro Rousette (Rousettus obliviosus), 49. Long-haired Fruit Bat (Stenonycteris lanosus)

Distribution. Sulawesi and nearby Is (Togian, Peleng, Wowoni, Buton, Kabaena, and Tukangbesi), also on Sangihe Is (Sangihe, Siau, Tagulandang) and Sula Is (Mangole, Sanana).