Nyctimene varius, K. Andersen, 1910

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2019, Pteropodidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 16-162 : 118

103.

Lesser Tube-nosed Fruit Bat

Nyctimene varius

French: Petit Nyctiméne / German: Kleiner Rohrennasenflughund / Spanish: Nyctimeno pequeno

Taxonomy. Nyctimene varius K. Andersen, 1910 ,

“Mt. Mada, Buru [Island, Moluccas, Indonesia].”

Nyctimene varius is currently in the albiventer species group along with N. albiventer , N. draconilla , N. masalai , N. malaitensis , and N. vizcaccia (including bougainuville). Type specimen of minutus from Manado in North Sulawesi seems to be the only specimen from Sulawesi and probably represents geographically mislabeled N. albiventer , it is considered a synonym of N. a. albiventer here, which restricts it to only Moluccas populations under the name N. varius , although validity of this nomenclatural change is still in need of additional research. Monotypic.

Distribution. Restricted to C Moluccas (Buru and Seram Is).

Descriptive notes. Ear c. 11 mm, forearm 55 mm (holotype). Fur of the Lesser Tubenosed Fruit Bat is somewhat long and woolly. Dorsal pelage is mottled dark brownish, with dark, thin dorsal stripe on lower one-half of back. Ventral pelage is lighter grayish white. Ears are bluntly pointed. Second digit of wing has a claw, and wing attaches at second digit of foot. Tail is short, black, and wrinkled, and narrow uropatagium connects at base and stretches to calcar at ankles. Skull and mandible are robust, and rostrum is short. Single lower incisor is completely deciduous, falling out before adulthood; lower molars are broad and rounded in dorsal view; C, replaces incisors and is long and powerful; P, is elongated and longer than P| and P,; and teeth are robust.

Habitat. Mid-montane forests at elevations of 700-900 m.

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 (as N. minutus ). The Lesser Tube-nosed Fruit Bat might be threatened by mining and logging that occurs throughout its distribution. It occurs in Manusela National Park (Seram Island). Virtually nothing is known about its ecology, and there is considerable confusion about its taxonomy. Additional research is needed, including sampling efforts because it is known from only a few specimens.

Bibliography. Andersen (1910b, 1912b), Bergmans (2001), Heaney & Peterson (1984), Hutson, Helgen, Schlitter & Suyanto (2008).

Figures

95. African Straw-colored Fruit Bat (Eidolon helvum), 96. Madagascan Straw-colored Fruit Bat (Eidolon dupreanum), 98. Steadfast Tube-nosed Fruit Bat (Paranyctimene tenax), 99. Broad-striped Tube-nosed Fruit Bat (Nyctimene aello), 100. Round-eared Tube-nosed Fruit Bat (Nyctimene cyclotis), 101. Mountain Tube-nosed Fruit Bat (Nyctimene certans), 102. Happy Tube-nosed Fruit Bat (Nyctimene wrighiae), 103. Lesser Tube-nosed Fruit Bat (Nyctimene varius), 104. Common Tube-nosed Fruit Bat (Nyctimene albiventer), 105. Dragon Tube-nosed Fruit Bat (Nyctimene draconilla), 106. Demonic Tube-nosed Fruit Bat (Nyctimene masalai), 107. Malaita Tube-nosed Fruit Bat (Nyctimene malaitensis), 108. Umboi Tube-nosed Fruit Bat (Nyctimene vizcaccia), 109. Island Tube-nosed Fruit Bat (Nyctimene major), 110. Philippine Tube-nosed Fruit Bat (Nyctimene rabori), 111. Pallas’s Tube-nosed Fruit Bat (Nyctimene cephalotes), 112. Keast’s Tube-nosed Fruit Bat (Nyctimene keasti), 113. Queensland Tube-nosed Fruit Bat (Nyctimene robinsont)

Distribution. Restricted to C Moluccas (Buru and Seram Is).