Galeopterus variegatus (Audebert, 1799)

Russell A. Mittermeier & Don E. Wilson, 2018, Cynocephalidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 8 Insectivores, Sloths and Colugos, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 272-285 : 285

2.

Sunda Colugo

Galeopterus variegatus

French: Galéopithéque de Malaisie / German: Malaien-Gleitflieger / Spanish: Colugo de Sonda

Other common names: Sunda Flying Lemur; Bornean Colugo / Flying Lemur (borneanus); Javan Colugo / Flying Lemur (variegatus); Malayan Colugo / Flying Lemur (peninsulae); Sumatran Colugo / Flying Lemur (temminckii)

Taxonomy. Galeopitecus [sic] wvariegatus Audebert, 1799,

type locality not given. Restricted by O. Thomas in 1908 to the “Malay Peninsula and Islands.”

Historically, there were up to 20 subspe- cies based on biogeographical and morphological variation. These have been merged into four subspecies based on:; craniodental features. Molecular divergence. estimates.. indicate these. might be separate species and that there are additional unrecognized taxa. Taxonomy requires reassessment. Four subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution. G.v.variegatusAudebert,1799—WJavaandnearbyMaduraI. G.v.borneanusLyon,1911—BorneoandnearbyBalembangan,Banggi,andLautIs. G.v.peninsulaeThomas,1908—mainlandSouth-eastAsia(ELaos,Vietnam,SECambodia,extremeSEMyanmar,andSThailand)andtheMalayPeninsula(includingButang,Tarutao,Langkawi,Penang,Pangkor,Singapore,Perhentians,Tioman,andAurIs). G. v. temminckit Waterhouse, 1839 — Sumatra and nearby Nias, Batu, Siberut, and Rupat Is, also on Bangka. It is unknown to which subspecies colugo populations on more distant islands belong to, such those on Belitung, Karimata, Anambas and Natuna Is, and the Riau and Lingga archipelagos.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 340-420 mm, tail 170-280 mm, ear 23-26 mm, hindfoot 72-80 mm; weight 1.2-1.7 kg. The Sunda Colugo is slightly larger than the Philippine Colugo ( Cynocephalus volans ). Females are larger than males. Nominate subspecies variegatus is larger than other subspecies. Sunda Colugos are medium-sized, with the most extensive patagium of any mammal, other than the related Philippine Colugo, enabling gliding up to 150 m. When gliding, females carry young suspended across their abdomen. Color of short, soft coatis variable geographically ranging from brown to gray. Some individuals have white spots primarily on forelegs and shoulders, or variably on their bodies. Males are more rufous or darker brown, and females are usually gray. Sunda Colugos have large heads, small ears, large forward-facing eyes, and axial skeletons highly adapted gliding. They move poorly on the ground. Their hooked claws allow them to suspend vertically on trees and suspend upside down from tree limbs. They have unique comb-like lower incisors that project forward. Their teeth are unique in that they include insectivore-like traits and features for shearing and grinding vegetation. The Sunda Colugo has narrower rostrum and reduced postorbital constriction compared with the Philippine Colugo.

Habitat. Tropical rainforests, coconut and rubber plantations, gardens with fruit trees, shrubs, and interspersed secondary forests, with intact canopy cover known to be an important factor in habitat selection. Habitat structure is known to play an important role in occurrence of Sunda Colugos; they prefer trees with larger heights and diameters greater than 60 cm. Females carrying infants appear to prefer to roost and feed in Buchanania arborescens ( Anacardiaceae ), possibly due to larger trunk size and greater availability of young leaves.

Food and Feeding. The Sunda Colugo is a generalist folivore but might prefer Ilex cymosa ( Aquifoliaceae ); Pterospermum javanicum ( Malvaceae ); Barningtonia spicata ( Lecythidaceae ); Artocarpus kemando ( Moraceae ); Campnosperma auriculata ( Anacardiaceae ); Rhodamnia cinerea, Syzygium grande, and S. lineatum (all Myrtaceae ); and Peltophorum pterocarpus, Saraca thaipingensis, and Cynometra ramiflora (all Fabaceae ). In disturbed habitats dominated by introduced species, they eat C. auriculata, P. pterocarpus, R. cinerea, Saraca cauliflora, Syzygium pachyphyllum, S. grande, and S. palembanicum. Sunda Colugos also eat fruit, flower buds,lichen, and ants.

Breeding. Sunda Colugos breed year-round and likely produce around two offspring per year. Litters consist of a single offspring, but two have occasionally been observed. Gestation is estimated to be 60-180 days. Adult size is reached at three years of age, butit is unknown if sexually maturity is reached prior to that age. Males likely breed with 1-3 females that, along with the resultant offspring, make up the primary social group for the Sunda Colugo. Males have also been observed carrying unweaned offspring in their patagium. Extent and pervasiveness of male input into rearing of young is currently unknown. Copulation occurs in forest canopies. Life span of the Sunda Colugo in the wild is unknown, but there is a record of a captive individual living up to 17-5 years.

Activity patterns. Sunda Colugos are exclusively arboreal. They are nocturnal and active between 18:00 h and 06:00 h. They mostly forage during their active periods, interspersed with resting, grooming, climbing, and gliding.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Average nightly movements of Sunda Colugo are 130-1342 m. Dispersal patterns and monthly home ranges are unknown. Sunda Colugos are mostly solitary but do interact in small social groups of 3-5 adult individuals. Groups usually consist of a single male, 2-4 females, and their offspring. Males are territorial and scent-mark their territories with urine. They also actively rebuff intruding males. Social interactions are rarely observed but occur particularly between males and females and females and their offspring.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. Although Sunda Colugos use secondary and primary rainforests and coconut and rubber plantations, they are vulnerable to deforestation. They are hunted and trapped in some areas. Status and population size are currently unknown. There is evidence for extirpation of populations of Sunda Colugos in many areas including Java and some smaller islands. Recent phylogenetic studies provide strong evidence that there are numerous unrecognized cryptic species that could be endangered. Thorough taxonomic revision and concurrent population surveys are needed to prevent further loss of colugo diversity.

Bibliography. Agoramoorthy et al. (2006), Boeadi & Steinmetz (2008), Byrnes, Libby et al. (2011), Byrnes, Lim & Spence (2008), Chasen & Kloss (1929), Ducrocq et al. (1992), Gingerich (1976), Gingerich & Gunnell (2005), Holmes & Austad (1994), Jackson (2012), Janecka, Helgen et al. (2008), Janetka, Miller et al. (2007), Ketol et al. (2006), Lim, B.L. (1967b), Lim, N.T.L. (2007), Lim, N.T.L. & Ng (2010), Lim, N.T.L. et al. (2013), Marivaux et al. (2006), Mason, Li Gang, Helgen & Murphy (2011), Mason, Li Gang, Minx et al. (2016), Meredith et al. (2011), Moritz et al. (2013), Nasir & Abdullah (2009a, 2009b, 2010), Nasir & Suriyanti (2013a, 2013b), Nowak (1999), Rose & Simons (1977), Ruggeri & Etterson (1998), Stafford & Szalay (2000), Stalder et al. (2010), Thomas (1908a), Tsuji et al. (2015), Wible (1993), Wilson & Reeder (2005).

Figures

Plate 13 Species Accounts

Subspecies and Distribution. G.v.variegatusAudebert,1799—WJavaandnearbyMaduraI. G.v.borneanusLyon,1911—BorneoandnearbyBalembangan,Banggi,andLautIs. G.v.peninsulaeThomas,1908—mainlandSouth-eastAsia(ELaos,Vietnam,SECambodia,extremeSEMyanmar,andSThailand)andtheMalayPeninsula(includingButang,Tarutao,Langkawi,Penang,Pangkor,Singapore,Perhentians,Tioman,andAurIs). G. v. temminckit Waterhouse, 1839 — Sumatra and nearby Nias, Batu, Siberut, and Rupat Is, also on Bangka. It is unknown to which subspecies colugo populations on more distant islands belong to, such those on Belitung, Karimata, Anambas and Natuna Is, and the Riau and Lingga archipelagos.