| Palawan Fruit Bat | |
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Chiroptera |
| Suborder: | Megachiroptera |
| Genus: | Acerodon |
| Species: | A. leucotis |
| Binomial name | |
| Acerodon leucotis (Sanborn, 1950) |
|
| Palawan Fruit Bat range | |
| Synonyms | |
|
paniki, kulapnit, kwaknit or kabog |
|
The Palawan Fruit Bat, or Acerodon leucotis is a species of found in the Sub-Order Megachiroptera. It is endemic to the Palawan and Busuanga Islands[2] of the Philippines. The Philippines are native to 74 bat species.[3] The bats are listed as vulnerable by the IUCN and are declining in populations due to hunting and habitat loss.
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The Palawan Fruit Bat grows to a length of 178-290mm, with a forearm length of 125-203mm.[4] A. leucotis can weigh up to 1,050 grams, and lack a tail. The coloration of the species is slightly variable, but usually the forehead and sides of the head are often dark brown or black, an orange or golden yellow nape may be evident, and the shoulders are usually reddish brown or chestnut. The lower back is usually darker than the area between the shoulders, and the undersides are usually dark brown or black.[5] The species may live at least five years, and up to eight years.
On the islands of the Philippines, members of the Acerodon genus roost together in enormous groups, sometimes as large as 150,000 individuals. These roosts can be found in clumps of bamboo, hardwood trees, swampy forests, or caves. Usually, these roosts are found on small offshore islands.[6]
A. leucotis is nocturnal,[7] so in the evening groups of two to six bats fly from nine to six kilometers to feed off of wild fruit in the mountains. The staple food source for most of the bats of the Philippines are figs. There are two species of fig in the Philippines, which are usually spaced along the edge of open forests.
The Palawan Fruit Bat does not show any territorial behavior other than in feeding times. Most of the population roost together, but in the evenings during feeding, if more than one individual lands in the same tree to feed, a noisy squabbling exchange takes place until a dominant individual drives the others off.[8]
In southern Palawan the species seems to have declined due to hunting and habitat loss, with most of its roosting and feeding areas being turned in to palm and rubber plantations. Over the next generation, the population of A. leucotis is expected to decrease up to 30% due to addtitional habitat loss.
A. leucotis has been listed in Appendix II of CITES since 1990 and has been recorded in a number of protected areas.[9] Stricter habitat protection and control of hunting are both important conservation measures that need to be implemented. Appropriate survey techniques should be identified for this species and further surveys undertaken.
In order to help the surviving populations of Palawan Fruit Bats, a comprehensive field study needs to be done on the numbers and populations of all of the bats of the Philippines. There has been little work done on doing population studies done on the bats, and there are no lists compiled of roosting areas or feeding sites. Being that the bats commonly roost together, it is hard for scientists to gather this information. Once this is done, it will be easier to set guidelines for hunting the bats, and setting up a season and tag limit for A. leucotis hunting.