Nyctimene wrightae, Irwin, 2017

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

102.

Happy Tube-nosed Fruit Bat

Nyctimene wrightae

French: Nyctimeéne de Wright / German: Wright-Réhrennasenflughund / Spanish: Nyctimeno de Wright

Other common names: Wright's Happy Tube-nosed Fruit Bat

Taxonomy. Nyctimene wrightae Irwin, 2017 ,

“Namosado (06°15’S 142°47’E, 500 m asl), Southern Highlands Province, PNG [= Papua New Guinea].”

Nyctimene wrightae is tentatively included in the cyclotis species group, although it shares many traits with N. albwenter papuanus. Populations attributed to N. wnrightae have been treated as N. cyclotis and N. a. papuanus. Monotypic.

Distribution. New Guinea (W, N, C & E lowlands).

Descriptive notes. Head-body 84-86- 4 mm, tail 19- 5-22 mm, ear 9- 2-16 mm, hindfoot 8:2—-15- 6 mm, forearm 52-1-63- 2 mm; weight 34- 5-36 g. There is some sexual dimorphism relative to color during reproductive season; hairs on central thorax seem to be whiter and brighter on males, and males also develop striking yellowish orange patch on ventral flanks; females generally have duller fawn brown pelage. Rostrum of the Happy Tube-nosed Fruit Bat is short, with long tubular divergent nostrils. Ears are somewhat elongated, with bluntly pointed tips and thickened along top edges; eyes are large, with dark reddish-brown irises. Dorsal pelage is relatively variable, generally being medium or fawn brown and grayish brown on face, with dark thin dorsal stripe that generally runs from mid-back to tail and thickens toward rump. Ventral pelage is paler brown than dorsum. There also is yellow morph that has lighter yellow brown dorsal and ventral fur, with brown wing spotting and white spotting on forearm and wing digits. Wings and ears are dark brown; ears, tube nostrils, and wing digits have variable amounts of white or yellow spotting; wing membranes have variable amounts of white (occasionally yellow) and darker brown spotting. Wing attaches at second digit of foot. 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. Claws are black. Skull and mandible are robust; rostrum has shortest length relative to skull length of any species of Nyctimeninae . 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 they have broad dental arcade and palate with very short rostrum, giving them a “smiling” appearance that is alluded to by the common name.

Habitat. Lowland to montane rainforests at elevations of 40-770 m.

Food and Feeding. The Happy Tube-nosed Fruit Bat is assumed to be frugivorous.

Breeding. Pregnant Happy Tube-nosed Fruit Bats have been captured in January-February and females with volant young in July.

Activity patterns. Happy Tube-nosed Fruit Bats are nocturnal.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Not assessed on The IUCN Red List. Because the Happy Tubenosed Fruit Bat was recently recognized, very little is understood regarding its ecology and threats, although it seems to be widespread and relatively common.

Bibliography. Irwin (2017).

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. New Guinea (W, N, C & E lowlands).