Pteralopex anceps, 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 : 127

119.

Bougainville Monkey-faced Fruit Bat

Pteralopex anceps

French: Roussette de Bougainville / German: Bougainville-Affengesichtflughund / Spanish: Pteralopex de Bougainville

Other common names: Bougainville Monkey-faced Bat

Taxonomy. Pteralopex anceps K. Andersen, 1909 ,

“Bougainville [Island], W. Solomon Islands [= North Solomons],” Papua New Guinea.

Records from Buka Island have been reassigned to the recently described P. flanneryi . Pteralopex ancepsis clearly distinct from allopatric P. atrata and sympatric P. flanneryi . Monotypic.

Distribution. Solomon Is (Bougainville and Choiseul). Presence on Santa Isabel I requires confirmation.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 235-285 mm (tailless), ear 21-26 mm, hindfoot 46— 65 mm, forearm 141-160 mm; weight unavailable but most likely 600-700 g. Head of the Bougainville Monkey-faced Fruit Bat is large and round, with long stout muzzle and blackish skin almost devoid ofhairs; nostrils are large and short, and philtrum has parallel furrow. Eyes are relatively small, with warm brown irises. Ears are round, with small blunt tips, completely concealed in fur. Head and dorsum are very densely haired; pelage is black or blackish brown, long, and woolly, sometimes with slight reddish shade in long mantle; dorsum has long hairs directed caudally but not adpressed; rump is thickly furred; pelage extends from hindleg to toes and onto proximal onethird of dorsal forearm. Throatis sparsely haired; chest is densely furred, with hairs having black bases and whitish or yellowish tips, producing large ventral pale patch extended to lower belly in some individuals (e.g. neotype). Uropatagium is thickly furred dorsally, almost wanting in center and narrow alongside hindlegs; and calcaris short. Wings are dark blackish brown, inserted near spine, and attached onto second toe; index claw is present; and all claws brown with tan tips. Skull is very robust, with strong basicranial deflection. Laterally, rostrum is long, with wide premaxillae and concave external nasal aperture; forehead is almost straight; orbit is relatively small and slightly tilted upward, with strong rim; zygomatic root is slightly above upper alveolar line; zygoma is thick and arched, with spine annectant to postorbital process thus forming complete orbital ring; and braincase is domed. Dorsally, rostrum is very wide and stout; premaxillae are arched and protruding; profile is marked by salient canine juga; interorbital region is narrow; paranasal recesses are indistinct; postorbital foramina are tiny or absent; postorbital constriction is very obvious; temporal lines join immediately behind orbits, forming relatively tall sagittal crest; and nuchal crest is obvious. Ventrally, palate is long and flat; incisor row is arched; tooth rows are nearly parallel; post-dental palate is relatively short; ear bones are very small; and ectotympanic is annular but wider anteriorly. Mandible is stout; coronoid rises almost vertically and is very broad, with curved contour; condyle is level with sinuous lower alveolarline; angle is strong; and masseteric line is obvious. There are 14 palatal ridges; first ridge is divided, immediately behind incisors; ridges 2-5 are smooth, arched, and undivided; ridges 6-10 are thick, arched, and divided at middle; eleventh ridge 1s undivided; ridges 12-14 are near palation border; and all last ridges are denticulate. Dental formula for all species of Pteralopexis12/2,C1/1,P 3/3, M 2/3 (x2) = 34. Dentition is generally stout, with large pieces and obvious cusps and ledges. Upper incisors are large, with strong basal distal shelves; I' is obtusely pointed, almost spatulated; I? is larger and roundly pointed, with cingulum raised into round cusp; C! is stout and comparatively very long, with very large distal secondary cusp and groove on mesial surface; P' is rudimentary, almost styliform; posterior cheekteeth are large and squarish in occlusal outline, with anterior and posterior basal ledges and raised margins and prominent single labial cusp,slightly decreasing in height posteriorly; and M? is small but cuspidate. Lower dentition has minute,slightly bifid I, and contrastingly very large, tricuspidate I, with large basal distal shelf; C, is short and stout, with single cusp and posteriorly raised ledge forming round tubercle; P|is relatively verylarge, tricuspidate, and similar to I; posterior cheekteeth are tall anteriorly, decrease in height posteriorly, with rectangular to posteriorly rounded occlusal outline and strong raised posterior ledge; main labial ridge is subtly divided into two cusps; and M, is round, almost peg-like.

Habitat. Rainforests, specifically coastal and inland forests, mid-elevation tall rainforests, and mossy montane forests from sea level up to elevations of ¢. 1900 m.

Food and Feeding. The Bougainville Monkey-faced Fruit Bat is presumably frugivorous, and strong dentition suggests it eats hard fruit.

Breeding. Bougainville Monkey-faced Fruit Bats with dependent young were recorded between late February and mid-April, and a lactating female was recorded in July, suggesting seasonal monoestry.

Activity patterns. Bougainville Monkey-faced Fruit Bats are nocturnal. Theyroost in large branches or cavities formed by branches in canopies and subcanopies.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Bougainville Monkey-faced Fruit Bats roost alone or in small groups (up to five individuals in one observation).

Status and Conservation. Classified as Endangered on The IUCN Red List. Population size of the Bougainville Monkey-faced Fruit Bat is unknown, but its trend is clearly decreasing, and itis fragmented into two islands. It is verysensitive to human presence and disturbance. Conversion of forests to agricultural land and hunting in parts of its distribution are increasing threats. Surveys in 2014 on Santa Isabel Island failed to capture Bougainville Monkey-faced Fruit Bats. A captive breeding program is recommended to ensure its survival.

Bibliography. Andersen (1912b), Bonaccorso (1998), Bowen-Jones et al. (1997), Flannery (1995a), Helgen (2005), Lavery (2017c), Parnaby (2002).

Figures

114. Fijian Long-tailed Fruit Bat (Notopteris macdonald), 115. New Caledonia Long-tailed Fruit Bat (Notopteris neocaledonicus), 116. White-winged Flying Fox (Desmalopex leucopterus), 117. Mindoro Pallid Flying Fox (Desmalopex microleucopterus), 118. Fijizan Monkey-faced Fruit Bat Marimar (: acrodonta), 119. Bougainville Monkey-faced Fruit Bat (Pteralopex anceps), 120. Guadalcanal Monkey-faced Fruit Bat (Pleralopex atrata), 121. Montane Monkey-faced Fruit Bat (Pleralopex pulchra), 122. New Georgia Monkey-faced Fruit Bat (Pleralopex taki), 123. Greater Monkey-faced Fruit Bat (Pleralopex flanneryi), 124. Black-bellied Blossom Bat (Melonycteris melanops), 125. Fardoulis’s Blossom Bat (Nesonycteris fardoulis), 126. Woodford’s Blossom Bat (Nesonycteris woodfordi)

Distribution. Solomon Is (Bougainville and Choiseul). Presence on Santa Isabel I requires confirmation.