Paranyctimene tenax (Bergmans, 2001)

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2019, Pteropodidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 16-162 : 116-117

98.

Steadfast Tube-nosed Fruit Bat

Paranyctimene tenax

French: Nyctiméne de Nijhoff / German: Standhafter Rohrennasenflughund / Spanish: Paranyctimeno de Nijhoff

Taxonomy. Nyctimene (Paranyctimene) tenax Bergmans, 2001 ,

“upstream of Anadea (about 07°36’S, 146°37°E), 32 km SSW of Wau, Morobe Province [ Papua New Guinea], alt. 850 m.”

Paranyctimene tenax is very similar to P. raptor , and they are often confused; thus, distributional limits between the two species have not been fully differentiated. Two subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution.

P.t.tenaxBergmans,2001—presumablymuchofNewGuinea(possiblyfoundpri-marilyinSlowlands);distributionallimitsbetweenthisspeciesandtheUnstripedTube-noseFruitBat(FP.raptor)areuncertainandthusdistributiongivenhereistentative.

P. t. marculus Bergmans, 2001 — Waigeo I.

Descriptive notes. Tail 15-3-21- 5 mm, ear 11:6-12- 7 mm, hindfoot 11:5-13- 5 mm, forearm 51-54- 9 mm; weight 25- 5 g. The Steadfast Tube-nosed Fruit Bat is very similar to the Unstriped Tube-nosed Fruit Bat ( P. raptor ) but can be distinguished by its larger average body and skull measurements and its more robust skull, along with some skull and dental differences. Rostrum is short, with long tubular divergent nostrils. Ears are somewhat elongated, with bluntly pointed tips and thickened along top edges. Eyes are large, with amberirises, and there is often greenish ring around eyes and darker fur behind nostrils. Dorsal pelage is dark brown, being grayish brown on head and fading to medium brown on back of head and darker medium to dark brown on back. Females are typically lighter overall than males, with slightly orangish hue to back of head. Unlike most species of Nyctimene , there is no dorsal stripe down middle of back. Ventral pelage is yellowish white, being more yellowish brown on flanks, genital region, upper arms, and legs. Ears are dark blackish brown, occasionally with a few yellow spots on edges. Wings and uropatagium are uniquely tinged dark lime-green, being browner near dark brown digits. Wings occasionally have some randomly dispersed small white dots. Second digit of wing has a claw, and wing attaches at second digit of foot. Tail is black and wrinkled, and narrow uropatagium connects at base and stretches to calcar at ankles. Claws are black. Skull and mandible are comparatively robust, rostrum is short and wide, post-dental palate is longer than in species of Nyctimene and the Unstriped Tube-nosed Fruit Bat, sagittal crest is well developed, and occipital crest 1s well developed. Single lower incisor is completely deciduous, falling out before adulthood; canines and premolars are considerably longer and more slender than in Nyctimene , lower molars are broad and rounded in dorsal view; lower canines replace incisors and are long and powerful; P| is some distance from C, and next premolar (P,) and is within tooth row; P, is narrow; and P, and M, have close and basally touching inner and outer cusps.

Habitat. Primary and secondary tropical moist forests, rural gardens, and swamps at an elevation of 850 m (type locality). Specimens attributed to the Steadfast Tube-nosed Fruit Bat and the Unstriped Tube-nosed Fruit Bat have been recorded from sea level up to elevations of ¢. 1350 m.

Food and Feeding. Diets of the Steadfast Tube-nosed Fruit Bat are probably similar to those of the Unstriped Tube-nosed Fruit Bat.

Breeding. Records of pregnant females listed under the Unstriped Tube-nosed Fruit Bat might apply to the Steadfast Tube-nosed Fruit Bat.

Activity patterns. Steadfast Tube-nosed Fruit Bats are nocturnal and roost in vegetation.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Steadfast Tube-nosed Fruit Bats are largely solitary.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. Distributional limits and threats to the Steadfast Tube-nosed Fruit Bat are confused by the lack of taxonomic clarity between it and the Unstriped Tube-nosed Fruit Bat. Additional studies are needed to clarify conservation status of both species.

Bibliography. Bergmans (2001), Bonaccorso (1998), Flannery (1995a, 1995b), Helgen (2007a), Helgen, Opiang & Thomas (2009).

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)

Subspecies and Distribution. P.t.tenaxBergmans,2001—presumablymuchofNewGuinea(possiblyfoundpri-marilyinSlowlands);distributionallimitsbetweenthisspeciesandtheUnstripedTube-noseFruitBat(FP.raptor)areuncertainandthusdistributiongivenhereistentative. P. t. marculus Bergmans, 2001 — Waigeo I.