Fig 1
Fig 2
Fig 3
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Order : CHIROPTERA
Family : Pteropodidae
Species : Balionycteris maculata
Forearm Length : up to
4.4 cm
Weight : up to 15 grams
Measuring just 5 or 6 cm
from head to toe, and weighing no more than 15 grams, Balionycteris
maculata (Spotted-winged
Fruit Bat) is amongst the smallest of its type. The species inhabits lowland
primary rainforest or tall secondary forest, where it feeds on forest
fruits.
It is easily identified by its small size, and by the pale spots which adorn
the wing and the finger joints : these may also occur on the face and at the
base of the ear. The dorsal fur is dark brown to dark grey, or black, and
the head has the darkest fur. The underside is pale grey, and there is no
tail. The eyes are relatively large.
They generally roost in small groups, huddled together : roosts typically
occur beneath palm leaves, or amongst epiphytes. The absence of such plants
in recently logged forest may encourage these bats to roost under man-made
structures. They have also been recorded roosting in caves.
The Spotted-winged Fruit Bat ranges from southern Thailand through
Peninsular Malaysia to the Riau Archipelago and parts of Borneo. There are
no records for Singapore.
Fig 1 : Four adult bats huddled together under a
rain shelter at Bintan Island, Riau Archipelago, Indonesia.
Fig 2 : Single adult, measuring just 6 cm from head to toe.
Fig 3 : Part of a roost of six from Gunung Arong, Johor, Peninsular
Malaysia.
References :
Francis, C.M., 2001. Mammals of South-east Asia. New
Holland.
Lekagul, B., McNeely, J., 1977. Mammals of Thailand. Association for the
Conservation of Wildlife, Thailand. 758 pp.
Payne, J., Francis, C.M., 1998. A Field Guide to the Mammals of
Borneo. The Sabah Society.
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