Long-tongued Fruit Bat

Taxobox | name = Long-tongued fruit bat
status = LR/lc | status_system = IUCN2.3


image_width = 225px
image_caption =
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
subphylum = Vertebrata
classis = Mammalia
ordo = Chiroptera
familia = Macroglossinae
genus = "Macroglossus"
species = "M. sobrinus"
binomial = "Macroglossus sobrinus"
binomial_authority = K. Andersen, 1911

The Long-tongued Fruit Bat ("Macroglossus sobrinus") is a species of megabat.

Distribution

M. sobrinus were mist-netted from Doi Suthep, Sungai Enam, Kuala Gandah, Wang Pinang Malaysia to and Taleban on the Asia Mainland. This species is distributed in Burma, Thailand, and Peninsular, Sumatra, Java and Bali (Lekagul and McNeely 1977, Medway 1978). This species is commonly found in hilly areas in Malaysia (Lim 1966).

Biology and ecology

Five adult males and five adult females were recorded. On 25 March 1997, a full term foetus was aborted by a full term pregnant female (MTA97347) taken from Wang Pinang. Males with enlarged testes suggested that they were of sexually active state at Taleban in March 1997, Kuala Gandah in July 1997 and Doi Suthep in May 1997. M. sobrinus that were netted were all associated with banana plants in most sites and with flowering trees in Doi Suthep.

External measurements

*FA = 46.12±1.25, TL = 3.81±1.07 (6), EL = 15.38±1.00, HD = 30.22±1.39, TB = 18.29±0.61, WT = 20.22±3.23, HB = 73.92±4.45, HF = 9.29±0.89, D5 = 58.50±1.73. "M. sobrinus" can be isolated from "M. minimus" by using external morphological measurements. Comparatively, M. sobranus is than M. minimus in the forearm length (43.35 to 46.95 mm vs 40 to 43 mm) and head length (30.05 to 30.54 mm vs 26 to 28 mm) and heavier body weight (17 to 23 g vs 13 to19 g) (Medway 1978). However, the tail length (0-2 mm versus 0-5 mm) and hind foot (8 - 9 mm versus 15-18 mm) disagreed to that of Lekagul and McNeely (1977).

See also

*"Macroglossus minimus"

References in Borneo

* Hall LS, Gordon G. Grigg, Craig Moritz, Besar Ketol, Isa Sait, Wahab Marni and M.T. Abdullah. 2004. Biogeography of fruit bats in Southeast Asia. Sarawak Museum Journal LX(81):191-284.
* Karim, C., A.A. Tuen and M.T. Abdullah. 2004. Mammals. Sarawak Museum Journal Special Issue No. 6. 80: 221—234.
* Mohd. Azlan J., Ibnu Maryanto, Agus P. Kartono and M.T. Abdullah. 2003 Diversity, Relative Abundance and Conservation of Chiropterans in Kayan Mentarang National Park, East Kalimantan, Indonesia. Sarawak Museum Journal 79: 251-265.
* Hall LS, Richards GC, Abdullah MT. 2002. The bats of Niah National Park, Sarawak. Sarawak Museum Journal. 78: 255-282.

External links

* [http://www.batworld.org Bat World Sanctuary]
* [http://www.allaboutrodrigues.com/Rodrigues+Fruit+Bats.html Rodrigues Fruit Bats]
* [http://www.batcon.org Bat Conservation International]