Pteropus melanotus Blyth 1863
Creators: name: Don E. Wilson
name: Russell A. Mittermeier
Publisher: name: Lynx Edicions
Year: 2019
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Chordata
Mammalia
Chiroptera
Pteropodidae
Pteropus
Pteropus melanotus

description: 151.
Black-eared Flying Fox
Pteropus melanotus
French: Roussette a oreilles noires / German: Schwarzohrflughund / Spanish: Zorro volador de Andaman
Other common names: Blyth's Flying Fox, Christmas Island Flying Fox (natalis)
Taxonomy. Pteropus melanotus Blyth, 1863,
“ Nicobar Islands,” India.
Pteropus melanotus is in the griseus species group. Subspecies natalis might represent a separate species, but wider genetic comparisons are needed. Subspecies tytler: is morphometrically similar to some P. hypomelanus. Five subspecies recognized.
Subspecies and Distribution.
P.m.melanotusBlyth,1863—NicobarIs.
P.m.modigliani:Thomas,1894—EngganoI,offSWSumatra.
P.m.natalisThomas,1887—ChristmasI,Australia.
P.m.niadicusG.S.Miller,1906—NiasI,offNWSumatra.
P. m. tytlern Mason, 1908 — Andaman Is (South Andaman and Rutland).
Descriptive notes. Tailless, ear 25-27 mm, hindfoot 37- 5-52 mm, forearm 110- 165 mm; weight 220-500 g. Greatest lengths of skulls are 72-75- 5 mm and tibias 72— 76 mm. Claw and tibia lengths of males are only slightly larger than those of females. Subspecies natalis is the smallest, and melanotus is the largest, suggesting largersize in northern subspecies. Fur is short and adpressed on back. Subspecies modiglianii, tytleri, and natalis are black, with sprinklings of white hairs on belly and mantle; other subspecies have dark brown back and rump, with a few whitish hairs, but mid-chest and belly vary from ocherous buffy to deep tawny, with rufous in areas of body where it meets darker color. Subspecies modiglianii and natalis are longer haired. Head and crown are dark brown to blackish, contrasting with tawny to rufous mantle. Ears are broad and narrowly rounded off at tips. Wing membranes of all subspecies are dark brown and arise near sides of spine. Index claw is present. Tibia is naked. Skull has well-developed postorbital process and temporal ridges fused to form a well-developed sagittal crest. Orbits are rather large. Coronoid is moderate and somewhat sloping. Palate ridges: 5 + 5 + 3. Teeth of smaller subspecies do not decrease in size as skulls decrease in size. Cingulum of C' is narrow, and posterior basal ledge of P° is short. P' is minute and sometimes missing in adults. Posterior ledge of P, is moderate and short in P,, making both separate posteroexternally from main cusp. Dentition of natalis is slightly different: canine is heavier at base and more recurved, with broad cingulum and slight groove on front face of tooth; P' is larger than in other subspecies; and M* and M, are reduced. Posterior basal ledges of P* and P, are present but shorter.
Habitat. Semideciduous, evergreen, and mangrove forests mostly near sea level but island habitats go up to elevations of ¢. 900 m. The Black-eared Flying Fox is a specialist of small islands, roosting primarily in lowland mangrove habitats. It shifts temporarily to inland forests in response to disturbance.
Food and Feeding. The Black-eared Flying Fox eats mostly fruit but occasionally flowers and leaves. It eats fruits or flowers of more than 35 species in at least 12 genera and 12 families. It also eats cultivated fruit.
Breeding. On Christmas Island (natalis), female Black-eared Flying Foxes reach sexual maturity at c.24 months of age; males reach maturity at ¢.27 months. Males are unlikely to be competitive until they achieve full adult body mass and establish mating territories at c.4 years of age. Females give birth to one young per year. Birth peaks vary across its distribution because rainy season is different on each island. On Christmas Island, peak mating occurs in June-August and peak birthing occurs in December-February. Mating is polygynous based on male—-male competition. Larger claws help males defend territories and harems, and larger tibias are advantageous for attaining sexual position during mating.
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Activity patterns. The Black-eared Flying Fox is crepuscular and nocturnal. Individuals usually leave day roosts around dusk to forage and return before dawn. The Christmas Island subspecies is somewhat more diurnal. During the day, Black-eared Flying Foxes rest at roosts and exhibit typical pteropodine activity, such as wing flapping and occasional conspecific territorial interactions. On Nicobar Islands, day roosts are in Nypa fruticans (Arecaceae).
Movements, Home range and Social organization. The Black-eared Flying Fox is generally gregarious and roosts colonially in tall, defoliated trees with low levels of disturbance. It occurs in sympatry with the Nicobar Flying Fox (P. faunulus), and both have been captured in fruit plantations. In areas close to human settlements, colonies have fewer than 200 individuals, but in areas further from human settlements, colonies can have more than 2000 individuals.
Status and Conservation. CITES Appendix II. Classified as Vulnerable on The IUCN Red List. Population declines of Black-eared Flying Foxes of more than 30% are suspected during the next three generations because of habitat loss, hunting, and possibly introduced predators. Continual rises in global sea levels will likely result in loss of essential roosting habitat. On Andaman and Nicobar islands, some hunting occurs near human settlements. Hunters commonly use air guns and catapults. On Nias and Enggano (Indonesia), some hunting occurs. Black-eared Flying Foxes supposedly have medicinal value. Severe weather events have destroyed important mangrove roosts and have forced some colonies to move to inland forests. The Christmas Island subspecies (natalis), which might be a full species after additional taxonomic review, would likely be assessed as Critically Endangered, given population decline of 83% in three generations, with current estimates of ¢.2000 individuals remaining. Habitat loss, severe weather events, and negative effects of introduced carnivores, introduced yellow crazy ants (Anoplolepis gracilipes, Formicidae), insecticide poisoning, disease, and pollution have caused this decline. There have been efforts to reduce feral cat numbers and changes in methods of controlling yellow crazy ants. Captive breeding has been discussed for subspecies natalis.
Bibliography. Aimeida et al. (2014), Andersen (1912b), Aul et al. (2014), Beeton et al. (2010), Churchill (2008), Corbet & Hill (1992), Director of National Parks (2014), Jackson & Groves (2015), Hutson, Kingston, James etal. (2008), Phalen et al. (2017), Simmons (2005), Todd et al. (2018).
description: Published as part of Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2019, Pteropodidae, pp. 16-162 in Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Barcelona :Lynx Edicions on pages 143-144, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.6448815