The pygmy fruit bat (Aethalops alecto), also known as the grey fruit bat, is a species of megabat.

Pygmy Fruit Bat
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Chiroptera
Family: Pteropodidae
Genus: Aethalops
Species:
A. alecto
Binomial name
Aethalops alecto
(Thomas, 1923)
Pygmy Fruit Bat range
Synonyms
  • Aethalodes alecto Thomas, 1923

Distribution edit

Three specimens were collected in April 1995 from Bario highlands in Sarawak. A. alecto is confined to montane forest above 1000 m from Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra and Java. In Borneo it had been recorded at Mount Kinabalu and Crocker Range in Sabah; Gunung Mulu and Bareo in Sarawak (Payne et al. 1985 ).

Biology and ecology edit

Two adult females and an adult male collected from Bario were in a non-reproductive condition. Kitchener et al. (1990) reported a pregnant female collected on Lombok Island in October. Hill (1961) observed pregnancy in February and May in Peninsular Malaysia. Medway (1978) recorded that the months between February and June was the breeding period for the species. This species appears to be confined to montane forest above 1,000 m (Payne et al. 1985).

External measurements edit

  • 3 samples. FA = 43.70–48.00, TL = none, EL = 10.00–12.00, TB = 15.30–17.00, WT = 12.00–18.00.

Measurements are referenced from Diaz.[2] Measurements are without scale, but can only be millimeters. FA = Forearm Length, TL = Tail Length, EL = Ear Length, HFL = Hind Foot Length, TB is not described, and WT = usually W, is weight in grams.

Further measurements are referenced according to Barquez.[3] Measurements are referenced as GLS = Greater Length of Skull, Condylobasal Length (CBL), Least Interorbital Breadth (LIB), Zygomatic Breadth (ZB), Postorbital Constriction (PC), Breadth of Braincase (BB), Length of Maxillary Toothrow (LMxT), Palatial Length (PL), Mastoid Breadth (MB), Length of Mandibular Toothrow (LMdT), Length of Mandible (LM), Width across Upper Canines (CC), and Width across Upper Molars (MM).

References edit

  1. ^ White, A.L.; Rhone, A.S.; Kumaran, J.; Waldien, D.L. (2023). "Aethalops alecto". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2023: e.T565A229798079. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2023-1.RLTS.T565A229798079.en. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  2. ^ Diaz, Adrian; M.M; D.A. Flores; R.M. Barquez (1998). "Instrucciones para la preparacion y conservacion de mamiferos". Programa de Investigaciones de Biodiversidad de Argentina. Publicaciones Especiales (1): 13–18. Retrieved 13 December 2013.
  3. ^ Barquez, R.M. (2006). Mamiferos de Argentina: Systematica y Distribucion. SAREM. pp. 56–86. ISBN 987984971X.
  • 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.
  • Bat World Sanctuary
  • Bat Conservation International
  • ITIS