Dobsonia emersa, Bergmans & Sarbini, 1985

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2019, Pteropodidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 16-162 : 110-111

88.

Biak Naked-backed Fruit Bat

Dobsonia emersa

French: Roussette de Biak / German: Biak-Nacktrlickenflughund / Spanish: Dobsonia de Biak

Other common names: Biak Bare-backed Fruit Bat

Taxonomy. Dobsonia emersa Bergmans & Sarbini, 1985 ,

Sorido, Biak Island, Papua Province, Indonesia.

Populations attributed to D. emersa from Numfor Island possibly represent an undescribed subspecies or species but conservatively that population is included here. Monotypic.

Distribution. Schouten Is (Numfor, Biak-Supiori, and Owi) off NW New Guinea.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 158- 170 mm, tail 24-27 mm; ear 25- 23 mm, forearm 112-119 mm; weight 178-218 ¢. Dorsal fur 1s brownish black; ventral fur is pale brown. Wings meet along spine, with underlying brown fur. Flight membranes are blackish brown. Index claw (second digit of wing) is absent. Nostrils are slightly tubular, and each flares outward from centerline. Eyes are large, with brown irises. Short tail is free of narrow uropatagium that run along legs to short stiff calcars.

Habitat. Primary and secondary lowland tropical moist forests and village gardens, only reported from sea level up to ¢. 30 m.

Food and Feeding. The Biak Naked-backed Fruit Batis frugivorous. It likely feeds on native figs. In village gardens,it eats carambola or star fruit ( Oxalidaceae ).

Breeding. Non-volant young Biak Naked-backed Fruit Bats weighing 30-98 g have been observed in late September on Numfor, suggesting parturition in August to early September.

Activity patterns. Biak Naked-backed Fruit Bats are nocturnal and roost in caves.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Biak Naked-backed Fruit Bats are gregarious In cave roosts.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Vulnerable on The IUCN Red List. The Biak Naked-backed Fruit Bat is known from less than five locations. There is some disturbance at roost sites and limited hunting. It might be threatened by habitat degradation and forest clearing due to logging and agricultural expansion on Biak, the most highly populated West Papuan island, but it appears to tolerate some disturbance.

Bibliography. Bergmans & Sarbini (1985), Bonaccorso & Helgen (2008a), Flannery (1995a).

Figures

73. Lesser Long-tongued Blossom Bat (Macroglossus minimus), 74. Greater Long-tongued Blossom Bat (Macroglossus sobrinus), 75. Southern Blossom Bat (Syconycteris australis), 76. Halmaheran Blossom Bat (Syconycteris carolinae), 77. Moss-forest Blossom Bat (Syconycteris hobbit), 78. Manado Fruit Bat (Boneia bidens), 79. Sulawesi Harpy Fruit Bat (Harpyionycteris celebensis), 80. Philippine Harpy Fruit Bat (Harpyionycteris whitehead), 81. Bulmer’s Fruit Bat (Aproteles bulmerae), 82. Lesser Naked-backed Fruit Bat (Dobsonia minor), 83. Moluccan Naked-backed Fruit Bat (Dobsonia moluccensis), 84. Western Naked-backed Fruit Bat (Dobsonia peronu), 86. Panniet Naked-backed Fruit Bat (Dobsonia pannietensis), 87. Philippine Naked-backed Fruit Bat (Dobsonia chapmani), 88. Biak Naked-backed Fruit Bat (Dobsonia emersa), 89. Sulawesi Naked-backed Fruit Bat (Dobsonia exoleta), 90. Greenish Naked-backed Fruit Bat (Dobsonia viridis), 91. Beaufort’s Naked-backed Fruit Bat (Dobsonia beauforti), 92. Halmahera Naked-backed Fruit Bat (Dobsonia crenulata), 93. Solomons Naked-backed Fruit Bat (Dobsonia inermis), 94. New Britain Naked-backed Fruit Bat (Dobsonia praedatrix)

Distribution. Schouten Is (Numfor, Biak-Supiori, and Owi) off NW New Guinea .