Greater Dawn Bat

discussion

Remarks. — The genus Eonycteris is distinguished from all other fruit bats by the lack of a claw on the second digit of the wing. We caught Eonycteris major at Kubah NP in a net placed in front of a banana tree, and in Mt. Penrisen this species was caught at the edge of a steep cliff where bats were flying near stands of banana trees. This species is the largest nectar-feeding bat in Malaysia, with a long muzzle that is slender and curved. Eonycteris major also has an enlarged gland near the anus. Forearm length distinguishes E. major (71 - 80 mm) from the smaller E. spelaea (62 - 70 mm; Payne et al. 1985). Both of these species roost in limestone caves (SAMD database). Low cyt- b genetic distance (0.1 %) was observed among Bornean individuals. A specimen, TTU 108410 (18 August 2006; Mt. Penrisen), was carrying earwigs (Scizochelisoches sp.; Fig. 2) on its dorsum near the base of the tail. This is the first record for earwigs on this bat species. Specimens of these earwigs are housed in the NSRL.

USING GENETICS AND MORPHOLOGY TO EXAMINE SPECIES DIVERSITY OF OLD WORLD BATS: REPORT OF A RECENT COLLECTION FROM MALAYSIA

distribution

Malaysian distribution. — Eonycteris major is endemic to Borneo.

USING GENETICS AND MORPHOLOGY TO EXAMINE SPECIES DIVERSITY OF OLD WORLD BATS: REPORT OF A RECENT COLLECTION FROM MALAYSIA

materials_examined

S p e c i m e n s e x a m i n e d (4). — Kubah NP: TTU 108327 (GenBank EU 521600); Mt. Penrisen: TTU 108371, TTU 108372, TTU 108410. Type locality. — Malaysia (Borneo), Sarawak, Mount Dulit.

USING GENETICS AND MORPHOLOGY TO EXAMINE SPECIES DIVERSITY OF OLD WORLD BATS: REPORT OF A RECENT COLLECTION FROM MALAYSIA

conservation

Conservation: IUCN / SSC Action Plan (1992) – Not Threatened. IUCN 2003 – Lower Risk (lc).

Order Chiroptera - Family Pteropodidae