Haplonycteris fischeri Lawrence 1939
Creators: name: Don E. Wilson
name: Russell A. Mittermeier
Publisher: name: Lynx Edicions
Year: 2019
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Chordata
Mammalia
Chiroptera
Pteropodidae
Haplonycteris
Haplonycteris fischeri

description: 26.
Fischer’s Pygmy Fruit Bat
Haplonycteris fischeri
French: Cynoptere de Fischer / German: FischerKleinflughund / Spanish: Haplonicterio de Fischer
Other common names: Philippine Pygmy Fruit Bat, Pygmy Bat, Pygmy Fruit Bat
Taxonomy. Haplonycteris fischeri Lawrence, 1939,
“Bignay, Mt. Halcon, Mindoro,” Philippines.
Strong genetic structuring of H. fischeriindicates there are three old (4-6 million years) major geographical clades: Northern (Greater Luzon, Mindoro, and Negros-Panay), Sibuyan, and Southern (Greater Mindanao); these likely warrant distinction at the species level with morphological correlates (e.g. Sibuyan). Additional eight nested clades correspond with present-day islands. Monotypic.
Distribution. Widespread in the Philippines.
Descriptive notes. Head-body 69-78 mm {tallless), ear 12-14 mm, hindfoot 12-14 mm, forearm 46-52 mm; weight 16-21 g. Head of Fischer’s Pygmy Fruit Bat is rounded; muzzle is short; nostrils are long tubular, with thickened rim; philtrum is divided and V-shaped, with each side ending on pad on upper lip; and lower lip has several pads. Eyes are large and bulging; iris is warm brown. Ears are short, rounded, and pale brown. Head pelageis soft, brown, and occasionally darker on cap; nape and dorsal pelage is long, soft, and reddish brown and extends to bases of forearms, the latter with band of pale hairs along its dorsal side. Uropatagium is narrow in center, and calcaris short. Sides of neck have tufts of long, orange glandular hairs on adult males. Chest and belly are light brown; flanks are brown. Wing membranes are dark to reddish brown from sides of body, index claw is present, and thumb is very long. Skull has no basicranial deflection, rostrum is short and deep, orbit is large, zygomatic root arises slightly above upper alveolar line, zygoma is thin and arched posteriorly, and braincase is domed. Dorsally, rostrum is wide at base and slightly tapering; paranasal recesses are inflated, surpassing root of posteriorly directed postorbital processes; postorbital foramina are absent; postorbital constriction is obvious; temporal lines join in low sagittal crest; braincaseis rounded, and nuchal crest is sharp. Ventrally, palate is flat, tooth rows divergeslightly, post-dental palate is long, palatine spine continues in sharp sphenoidal crest, and ectotympanic is small and wide anteriorly. Mandible is straight, coronoid is long and sloping, with squarish tip, condyle is level with lower alveolar line, and angle is round and distinct. There are 11-12 arched interdental palatal ridges, divided at middle, and 1-2 post-dental, denticulate, variously incomplete ridges. Dental formulais I 1/1, C1/1,P3/3, M1/1 (x2) = 24. I? is long and bent medially (I' absent); C' is small and almost straight; P' has small cusp; posterior cheekteeth are triangular anteriorly and decrease in height posteriorly; and M' is very low and small, with rectangular occlusal outline. I,is bifid, with inner lobe longer (I, absent); C, is small and very thin; P| is peg-like; posterior cheekteeth decrease in height posteriorly, and M,is very low, with rectangular occlusal outline.
Habitat. [Lowland to montane forests, second growth forests, agricultural areas, and mossy forests (rare) at elevations of 150-2250 m.
Food and Feeding. Fischer’s Pygmy Fruit Bat is primarily frugivorous. On Panay, diet is composed exclusively of ten species of figs (e.g. Ficus forsteni, Moraceae).
Breeding. Fischer’s Pygmy Fruit Bat is seasonally monoestrous, with postpartum estrus and delayed embryonic development. Litter size is one. Births are synchronous, with most females giving birth in May-July, peaking in June. Postpartum estrus, mating, and conception occur within 1-3 weeks after parturition. Lactation lasts ¢.2-5 months to late October. Embryo experiences post-implantation developmental delay of ¢.8 months slowly growing until rapid development resumes over a period of ¢.3 months, achieving a crown-rump length of 25-30 mmjust prior to birth. Up to 10% of embryos are abnormal in some way like having embryonic layers disorganized. Males produce and store sperm in testes or epididymides throughout the year, and copulations occur year-round in some locations (e.g. Negros Island). Longevity is estimated at 8-10 years.
Activity patterns. No information.
Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.
Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. Fischer's Pygmy Fruit Bat is widespread and common—more so at higher elevations where habitat quality is better, and conservation threats are minimal. Population is presumably large and stable. It is tolerant to moderate habitat degradation, but lowland populations might be affected by habitat destruction and drastic changes in land use. Genetically distinct populations are deeply fragmented into island groups that required taxonomic resolution and reassessment of their conservation status.
Bibliography. Giannini & Simmons (2007a), Heaney et al. (2006), Heideman (1988, 1989a), Heideman & Heaney (1989), Lawrence (1939), Luft (2002), Ong, Rosell-Ambal, Tabaranza, Heaney, Duya, Gonzalez, Balete & Ramayla (2008), Peterson & Heaney (1993), Roberts (2006b).
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 75-76, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.6448815