Giant golden-crowned flying fox

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Giant golden-crowned flying fox
CITES Appendix I (CITES)[2]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Chiroptera
Family: Pteropodidae
Genus: Acerodon
Species:
A. jubatus
Binomial name
Acerodon jubatus
(Eschscholtz, 1831)
Giant golden-crowned flying fox range:
  extant
  possibly extirpated
  extirpated
Synonyms
  • Pteropus jubatus Eschscholtz, 1831

The giant golden-crowned flying fox (Acerodon jubatus), also known as the golden-capped fruit bat, is a species of megabat endemic to the Philippines. Since its description in 1831, three subspecies of the giant golden-crowned flying fox have been recognized, one of which is extinct. The extinct subspecies (A. jubatus lucifer) was formerly recognized as a full species, the Panay golden-crowned flying fox. Formerly, this species was placed in the genus Pteropus; while it is no longer within the genus, it has many physical similarities to Pteropus megabats. It is one of the largest bat species in the world, weighing up to 1.4 kg (3.1 lb)—only the Indian and great flying fox can weigh more. It has the longest documented forearm length of any bat species at 21 cm (8.3 in).

It is primarily frugivorous, consuming several kinds of fig and some leaves. It forages at night and sleeps during the day in tree roosts. These roosts can consist of thousands of individuals, often including another species, the large flying fox. Not much is known about its reproduction; it gives birth annually from April through June, with females having one pup at a time. Predators of the giant golden-crowned flying fox include raptors such as eagles, the reticulated python, and humans.

Owing to

endangered
species. Though national and international law makes hunting and trade of this species illegal, these regulations are inadequately enforced, meaning that the species is frequently hunted nonetheless. Even in roosts that are more stringently protected from poaching, it is still affected by human disturbance via tourists who intentionally disturb them during the day.

An early description of this species may be found in William Dampier's account of his circumnavigation, A New Voyage Round the World.[3]

Taxonomy

The giant golden-crowned flying fox was described as a new species in 1831 by German naturalist

species name "jubatus" is from Latin, meaning "having a mane or crest, crested".[5] The holotype had been collected on the Philippine island of Luzon during an expedition led by Otto von Kotzebue.[4]
The genus Acerodon was described six years later in 1837, with A. jubatus as the type species for the new genus.[6] As of 2005, three subspecies of the giant golden-crowned flying fox are recognized:[7]

  • A. jubatus jubatus (Eschscholtz, 1831)
  • A. jubatus mindanensis (K. Andersen, 1909)[8]
  • †A. jubatus lucifer (Elliot, 1896)

A. jubatus lucifer had been described as Pteropus lucifer in 1896 by

IUCN as justification as listing A. jubatus lucifer as a subspecies of A. jubatus rather than as a full species.[1]

Description

Main article: Megabat § Description
Skull of the golden-crowned flying fox

Overall, the giant golden-crowned flying fox is similar in appearance to many Pteropus species. It is different in its smaller canine teeth and its larger and more complex molars and premolars. Its upper incisors are slightly longer than Pteropus species, as well as sharper. Its four lower incisors have a greater disparity in length between the inner and outer pair than do Pteropus.[6] Its dental formula is 2.1.3.22.1.3.3 for a total of 34 teeth.[11]

Illustration of giant golden-crowned flying fox skeleton

The giant golden-crowned flying fox is one of the largest bat species in the world.[12] It is among the heaviest of all bat species, with individuals weighing up to 1.40 kg (3.1 lb). The only bat species known to weigh more than the giant golden-crowned flying fox are the Indian flying fox (Pteropus medius) and great flying fox (Pteropus neohibernicus), with a maximum weight of 1.6 kg (3.5 lb) and 1.45 kg (3.2 lb) respectively.[12][13] It has the longest forearm length of any species, measuring up to 215 mm (8.5 in). The great flying fox has a slightly shorter forearm length, and its wingspan is thus presumed to be lesser as well.[13] The wingspan of the Indian flying fox is up to 1.5 m (4.9 ft),[14] while the giant golden-crowned flying fox has a wingspan of 1.5–1.7 m (4.9–5.6 ft).[12] This species is somewhat dimorphic, with males slightly larger than females in many cranial and external measurements.[15]

The giant golden-crowned flying fox gets its common name from its fur coloration. It has golden coloration that begins between its eyes and terminates to a narrow "V" shape at the nape of its neck, though sometimes extending to the upper shoulders.[16] The sides of its face, brows, and throat are black, while the sides of its neck and upper back are maroon; this maroon fur transitions into brownish black, which then grades into reddish brown down the back. On its ventral (belly) side, its fur is generally black, though the front of the neck may have a maroon tinge and its belly may be interspersed with yellow hairs. Its hindlimbs are covered with brownish black fur, and its flight membranes are pale brown.[11]

Biology and ecology

Diet and foraging

The fruits of Ficus variegata, a species of fig consumed by the giant golden-crowned flying fox

The giant golden-crowned flying fox is largely

Urostigma subgenus (which includes Ficus species commonly referred to as banyan), as well as Ficus variegata.[17]

The results support that the primary food group is composed of fig species, including Ficus subcordata and unidentified leaves. There is a lack of consensus on whether items found frequently in the fecal samples are actually prioritized or found as an alternative food for these bats.[17]

Multiple types of figs can also contribute to different nutrients for the species. Frugivorous bats usually do not consume foods rich in protein. The overconsumption of fruits, paired with leaves may contribute to an adequate amount of protein in their diet. Figs are superior sources of calcium, which may also aid in their growth to adults.[17]

Like nearly all megabats, giant golden-crowned flying foxes cannot echolocate, and thus rely on sight to navigate.[18] This species likely commutes long distances between its roost and foraging grounds. Individuals who roosted on the island of Maripipi, for example, were documented traveling more than 12 km (7.5 mi) to access sites on another island, Biliran.[19]

Roosting and behavior

Giant golden-crowned flying foxes are nocturnal, sleeping for most of the day. They do engage in some social and maintenance behaviors during the day at times, with solitary behaviors such as self-grooming, excreting waste, and wing flapping more prevalent in the afternoon and social behaviors such as fighting and mating in the morning.[20] It forms harmonious mixed species colonies with another megabat, the large flying fox (Pteropus vampyrus).[21] When time to leave the roosts for nightly foraging, the two species will head in the same direction.[21] In the 1920s, colonies of these two species would number as many as 120,000 individuals. As of 1992, the largest of these colonies was 5,000; many comprised only several hundred individuals.[19]

Reproduction

Little is known about mating and reproduction of the giant golden-crowned flying fox.

The litter size is one individual, with females likely producing no more than one litter per year.

Negros Island, females gave birth in April or May; based on other observations, females likely give birth during this time across its range.[19] On the island of Maripipi, young were born in late May and June.[15] This species show signs of a Type II survivorship curve. Parents take effort into the survivability of the offspring to ensure maturity and independent growth. This species may live up to 13–30 years in the wild.[23] Although they typically live a long life in the wild, they are also hunted by humans and other apex predators such as the Philippine eagle. They may also be susceptible to wildlife diseases.[24]

One of the avian predators of the giant golden-crowned flying fox, the Philippine eagle

The giant golden-crowned flying fox is impacted by

ectoparasites (external parasites) including Cyclopodia horsfieldi, which is a species of fly in the family Nycteribiidae ("bat flies").[25] It is preyed on by several raptors including the Philippine eagle, white-bellied sea eagle, and possibly the Brahminy kite. Non-avian predators include the reticulated python[22] and humans.[1]

Like many bat species, the giant golden-crowned flying fox has been investigated as a source of emerging infectious disease. One study tested for the presence Reston virus, a kind of Ebolavirus that affects some primates (though not humans), in a population of giant golden-crowned flying foxes at Subic Bay. Of fifty-six individuals tested for Reston virus, three were seropositive, meaning that they tested positive for antibodies against the virus.[26]

Range and habitat

The giant golden-crowned flying fox is

extirpated.[1]

It is a forest specialist, occurring mostly at elevations from

riparian zones more than originally thought, because the fig trees located near rivers are the bats' main source of food. They like to be close to agricultural fields, but only in undisturbed forest areas.[27]

Conservation

Individual fitted with a GPS tracking device for research on habitat use and movement

As of 2016, the giant golden-crowned flying fox is listed as an

endangered species by the IUCN. It meets the criteria for this designation because its population likely declined by more than 50% from 1986–2016. One of the largest factors in its decline is hunting for bushmeat.[1] Its large body size means that it is an easier target than many other bats. The practice of shooting the giant golden-crowned flying fox at its roosts results in excessive mortality, as dead individuals may not fall from the tree, and wounded individuals may glide some distance before falling. Therefore, a poacher may kill as many as thirty bats to recover ten.[19]

The giant golden-crowned flying fox is threatened by deforestation and has completely disappeared from many islands in the Philippines, such as Panay and most of Cebu.[1] Since 1900 the total forest coverage of the Philippines has been reduced from 70% to 20%.[28] Less than 10% of the original lowland forest cover now remains.[27] Negros, an island part of its range, retains only 4% of its original forest coverage.[29]

Subic Bay, Philippines

Internationally, the giant golden-crowned flying fox is protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). In 1990,[1] two of the three subspecies (A. j. lucifer and A. j. mindanensis) were included on CITES Appendix II, meaning that trade of the taxa was strictly regulated.[30] In 1995,[1][31] the species was placed CITES Appendix I. Appendix I is stricter than Appendix II, meaning that commercial trade of the species is only legal in exceptional circumstances.[32] Nationally, the species is protected by the 2001 Philippine Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act, though this law is inadequately enforced.[1]

While the majority of its roosts are within protected areas, illegal hunting occurs at a wide scale even within such areas. Three are largely protected in practice. On the island of Boracay, local landowners protect the roost from hunting disturbance. The local governments of Subic Bay and Mambukal protect another two roosts. Even though hunting pressures are lessened at these three roosts, the giant golden-crowned flying fox contends with other sources of disturbance. Tourists and their guides deliberately disturb the bats by clapping their hands or rapping on tree trunks to make the bats fly. In addition to keeping the bats from sleeping, these behaviors result in the separation of offspring from their mothers.[1]

In 2013, Bat Conservation International (BCI) listed this species as one of the 35 species of its worldwide priority list of conservation.[33] Actions that BCI has taken to promote its conservation include partnering with local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to protect its roosts, as well as educate Filipinos about bats.[34] Some captive breeding programs exist for the species, though it is uncertain if they are sufficient to make up for population declines seen in the wild.[1]

References

  1. ^
    doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T139A21988328.en
    . Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  2. ^ "Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved 2022-01-14.
  3. ISBN 978-0-241-41328-9
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  5. ^ Lewis, C. T. & Short, C. (1879). "jubatus". A Latin Dictionary. Founded on Andrews' edition of Freund's Latin dictionary (Revised, enlarged, and in great part rewritten ed.). Oxford: Clarendon Press.
  6. ^ a b Miller, G.S. (1907). "The families and genera of bats". Bulletin of the United States National Museum (57). U.S. Government Printing Office: 59.
  7. ^
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  8. ^ Andersen, K. (1909). "Notes on the genus Acerodon, with a synopsis of its species and subspecies, and descriptions of four new forms". The Annals and Magazine of Natural History; Zoology, Botany, and Geology. 8. 3.
  9. ^ Elliot, D. G. (1896). "On sundry collections of mammals received by the Field Columbian Museum from different localities, with descriptions of supposed new species and sub-species". Publication. Field Columbian Museum. Zoological Series. 1 (3).
  10. ^ Heaney, L.R.; Balete, D.S.; Dollar, M.L.; Alcala, A.C.; Dans, A.T.L.; Gonzales, P.C.; Ingle, N.R.; Lepiten, M.V.; Oliver, W.L.R.; Ong, P.S.; Rickart, E.A.; Tabaranza Jr., B.R.; Utzurrum, R.C.B. (1998). "A synopsis of the mammalian fauna of the Philippine Islands". Fieldiana: Zoology (88): 12–14.
  11. ^ a b Hollister, Ned (1911). A review of the Philippine land mammals in the United States National Museum. U.S. Government Printing Office. pp. 135–146.
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  15. ^ a b c Rickart, E. A. (1993). "The distribution and ecology of mammals on Leyte, Biliran, and Maripipi Islands, Philippines". Fieldiana Zoology. 72: 23–24.
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  17. ^
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  18. PMID 11353869
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  19. ^ a b c d e Mickleburgh, S. P.; Hutson, A. M.; Racey, P. A. (1992). Old World fruit bats: An action plan for their conservation (PDF) (Report). Gland, Switzerland: IUCN. pp. 37–38.
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  23. S2CID 86065499
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  24. ^ Heinen, Virginia. "Acerodon jubatus (golden-capped fruit bat)". Animal Diversity Web. Retrieved 2023-03-18.
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  27. ^ a b c Mildenstein, T.; Stier, S.; Nuevodiego, C.; Mills, L. (2005). "Habitat selection of endangered and endemic large flying-foxes in Subic Bay, Philippines".
    doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2005.05.001
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  28. ^ Lasco, R. D.; R. D. (2001). "Secondary forests in the Philippines: formation and transformation in the 20th century" (PDF). Journal of Tropical Forest Science. 13 (4): 652–670.
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  30. ^ "Protection and Conservation of Philippine Wild Birds, Mammals, and Reptiles". Environmental Treaties and Resource Indicators. 13 September 1991. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
  31. ^ Amendments to Appendices I and II of the Convention (PDF) (Report). CITES. 1994.
  32. ISBN 978-3-319-25220-9
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  33. ^ "Annual Report 2013-2014" (PDF). batcon.org. Bat Conservation International. August 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 7, 2017. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  34. ^ "Golden-crowned Flying Fox: A megabat species that plays an important ecological role in the Philippines". Bat Conservation International. 2015. Retrieved 26 July 2019.

External links

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