Chironax melanocephalus ( Temminck, 1825 )

Huang, Joe Chun-Chia, Jazdzyk, Elly Lestari, Nusalawo, Meyner, Maryanto, Ibnu, Maharadatunkamsi, Wiantoro, Sigit & Kingston, Tigga, 2014, A recent bat survey reveals Bukit Barisan Selatan Landscape as a chiropteran diversity hotspot in Sumatra, Acta Chiropterologica 16 (2), pp. 413-449 : 417

Chironax melanocephalus ( Temminck, 1825)

Black-capped fruit bat

New records

Lampung Province: Sukabanjar Forest, Sukaraja Forest, Way Canguk Forest.

New material

Four individuals were collected as voucher specimens. Lampung Province: Sukaraja Forest, 1♂, 1♀ ( MZB 35878, 35879); Sukabanjar Forest, 1♀ ( MZB 35028); Way Canguk Forest 1♀ ( MZB 35880).

Previous records from Sumatra

Aceh Province: Gunung Leuser ( Maharadatunkamsi, 2012); North Sumatra Province: Bohorok ( van Strien, 1996), Nias Island ( Simmons, 2005), Tapanuli Utara, Tapanuli Selatan, Asahan ( Maharadatunkamsi, 2012); Jambi Province: Regency of Sarolangun Bangko ( Maharadatunkamsi, 2012), Muara Bungo ( Sibuea and Herdimansyah, 1993); West Sumatra Province: Mininjau ( Sibuea and Herdimansyah, 1993); Bengkulu Province: Gunung Bungkuk, Bukit Jarum Kapahiang, Muara Aman, Lebong Selatan ( Maharadatunkamsi, 2012); Lampung Province: Krui ( Sibuea and Herdimansyah, 1993), Way Kambas ( Maharadatunkamsi, 2012).

Remarks

Chironax melanocephalus was captured at an elevation of 50–855 m a.s.l. in lowland rainforest and disturbed forest in the survey area. Based on differences in cranial characters, fur color, and ear shape, Maharadatunkamsi (2012) recognized three subspecies of C. melanocephalus in Indonesia, (C. m. melanocephalus in Java and Sumatra, C. m. tumulus in Sulawesi, and C. m. dyasae in Kalimantan), and indicated that C. m. melanocephalus was the only subspecies in Sumatra. Nevertheless, two distinct morphological forms were found in this study. The first morph has round-tipped and shorter ears, smaller body size ( Table 2 ), relatively weaker rostrum, and light gray or yellow underparts. The ear shape and rostrum are similar to those of C. m. melanocephalus and C. m. tumulus (as Pteropus melanocephalus in Temminck, 1825 ; Maharadatunkamsi, 2012) but the color differs on the underparts which is grayish brown in C. m. melanocephalus and brownish gray in C. m. tumulus. The second morph has triangular-tipped and longer ears, larger body size, a more robust rostrum, and is gray on the underparts. The ear shape and rostrum are more characteristic of C. m. dyasae but the color differs on the underparts which is yellowish brown in C. m. dyasae ( Maharadatunkamsi, 2012). Further detailed morphological and genetic analyses are necessary to clarify the taxonomic status of the two morphs.