Acerodon leucotis Sanborn 1950
Creators: name: Don E. Wilson
name: Russell A. Mittermeier
Publisher: name: Lynx Edicions
Year: 2019
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Chordata
Mammalia
Chiroptera
Pteropodidae
Acerodon
Acerodon leucotis

description: 133.
Palawan Flying Fox
Acerodon leucotis
French: Acérodon de Palawan / German: Palawan-Flughund / Spanish: Zorro volador de Palawan
Other common names: Palawan Fruit Bat
Taxonomy. Pteropus leucotis Sanborn, 1950,
“Singay, Busuanga Island, Calamianes Group, Philippine Islands.”
Two subspecies are recognized.
Subspecies and Distribution.
A. lL leucotis Sanborn, 1950 — Calamian Is (Busuanga).
A. l. obscurus Sanborn, 1950 — Palawan and Balabac Is.
Descriptive notes. Tailless, ear 29-32 mm, hindfoot 46 mm, forearm 130-165 mm. Greatest lengths of skulls are 67-69 mm. Ears of the Palawan Flying Fox have rounded tips and are shorter than muzzle, with no reduction above. Ears are light brown to whitish, almost translucent, with white to whitish silvery cap between ears flecked with light brown hairs. Body is generally light tan brown, with variable patches of large white to whitish silvery patches above and below. Mantle is slightly more golden russet than body. Uropatagium is reduced; calcar is small. Skull is typical pteropine, with long postorbital processes, although not quite reaching zygomatic process. P' is often early deciduous.
Habitat. Primary and dense secondary forests. The Palawan Flying Fox has been observed in several disturbed forest remnants with dense secondary forest, suggesting some degree of tolerance for disturbance. It was previously recorded at sea level, but its upper elevational limit is not known. Dense secondary forests that it currently uses are threatened by potential exploitation from agroforestry as palm oil and rubber plantations.
Food and Feeding. The Palawan Flying Fox eats mangoes and is also found in Ficus (Moraceae) trees. It has been recorded foraging at c¢. 8 m high in tree canopies.
Breeding. Reproduction of the Palawan Flying Fox is thought to be similar to that of other Acerodon flying foxes. It is suspected to live up to 6-8 years, suggesting an estimated generation time of 3-5 years.
Activity patterns. Palawan Flying Foxes are nocturnal and have been found in small tents at the canopy level.
Movements, Home range and Social organization. In southern Palawan, the Palawan Flying Fox does not form large colonies, which might be a consequence of overhunting that makes observations and tracking difficult.
Status and Conservation. CITES Appendix II. Classified as Vulnerable on The IUCN Red List. Population of the Palawan Flying Fox is projected to decline more than 30% over three generations due to hunting and habitat loss. In southern Palawan, unsustainable hunting of flying foxes for food is the primary threat. Expansion of palm oil and rubber plantations into Palawan will degrade potential roosting and foraging habitats. It has been found in protected areas on Palawan, but enforcement of existing laws restricting hunting and habitat protection are lacking.
Bibliography. Corbet & Hill (1992), Esselstyn, Widmann & Heaney (2004), Ingle & Heaney (1992), Musser et al. (1982), Ong, Rosell-Ambal, Tabaranza, Esselstyn et al. (2008), Sanborn (1950a).
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 page 135, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.6448815