Dobsonia exoleta, K. Andersen, 1909

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

89.

Sulawesi Naked-backed Fruit Bat

Dobsonia exoleta

French: Roussette de Minahasa / German: Sulawesi-Nacktrlickenflughund / Spanish: Dobsonia de Célebes

Taxonomy. Dobsonia exoleta K. Andersen, 1909 ,

“Tomohon, Minahassa,” Sulawesi Island, Indonesia.

This species is monotypic.

Distribution. Sulawesi (including Togian and Muna Is) and Sula Is (Mangole, Sanana); it probably occurs on all of Togian Isand possibly occurs on Buton I.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 150- 182 mm, tail 23-34 mm, ear 21-28 mm, hindfoot 28-41 mm, forearm 105- 124 mm; weight 162-275 g. Greatest skull lengths are 46-1-54- 6 mm. Head of the Sulawesi Naked-backed Fruit Bat is blackish brown; venter is bright yellow. Nape of neck and underside of wings have amber or dark olive-green hairs. Most body fur has greenish wash. Wings attach along midline of back with underlying fur. Short tail is free of narrow uropatagium that runs along legs to shortstiff calcars. Nostrils are slightly tubular, and each flares outward from centerline. Anterointernal corner of I is undifferentiated. Baculum is V-shaped, pointed at distal end; point is broad and thickened; and legs of proximal end are broad, flat, and curve downward.

Habitat. Primary lowland forest and disturbed habitats. The Sulawesi Naked-backed Fruit Bat can tolerate being commensal with humans.

Food and Feeding. The Sulawesi Naked-backed Fruit Bat is frugivorous. It likely feeds on native figs and will feed on ripe breadfruit ( Artocarpus communis, Moraceae ) growing in village gardens.

Breeding. Female Sulawesi Naked-backed Fruit Bats in third trimester of pregnancy were reported in April, and synchronized parturition is reported in May. Adult males have large descended testes in January-April. Young volant individuals have been observed in November—February and April-August on Sulawesi, suggesting two birth peaks/year.

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

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Sulawesi Naked-backed Fruit Bats are gregarious and form colonies of hundreds to thousands of individuals.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. The Sulawesi Naked-backed Fruit Batis relatively widespread and common, often occurring in association with humans, and it faces no major threats, although hunting for food might contribute to some localized declines.

Bibliography. Bergmans & Sarbini (1985), Corbet & Hill (1992), De Jong & Bergmans (1981), Flannery (1995a), Hill (1983), Hutson, Helgen, Kingston & Sinaga (2008).

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. Sulawesi (including Togian and Muna Is) and Sula Is (Mangole, Sanana); it probably occurs on all of Togian Isand possibly occurs on Buton I.