Demonic tube-nosed fruit bat

{{speciesbox

| image =

| status = DD | status_system = IUCN3.1

| status_ref ={{cite iucn |author=Leary, T. |author2=Helgen, K. |date=2020 |title=Nyctimene masalai |volume=2020 |page=e.T14959A22008122 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T14959A22008122.en |access-date=15 November 2021}}

| genus = Nyctimene

| species = masalai

| authority = Smith & Hood, 1983

| synonyms =

| range_map = Demonic Tube-nosed Fruit Bat area.png

| range_map_caption = Demonic tube-nosed fruit bat range

}}

The demonic tube-nosed fruit bat (Nyctimene masalai) is a species of bat in the family Pteropodidae. It is endemic to Papua New Guinea. The holotype specimen was collected in 1979 on New Ireland, in the Bismarck Archipelago. It was described as a new species in 1983. The range of the species may extend to other islands, however the extent of the range is not presently known.

Taxonomy and etymology

Based on its morphology, it was placed into the cephalotes species group of its genus when it was described. Species groups are hypotheses of evolutionary relationships, so it is thought that the demonic tube-nosed fruit bat is most closely related to the other members of the species group:

Pallas's tube-nosed bat, (N. cephalotes)
Island tube-nosed fruit bat, (N. major)
Eastern tube-nosed bat, (N. robinsoni)
Nendo tube-nosed fruit bat, (N. santacrucis)
Umboi tube-nosed fruit bat, (N. vizcaccia)

More recently, others have placed it in the albiventer species group.

Other members of the albiventer group included in this study were:

Common tube-nosed fruit bat, (N. albiventer)
Island tube-nosed fruit bat, (N. major)
Umboi tube-nosed fruit bat, (N. vizcaccia)
Dragon tube-nosed fruit bat, (N. draconilla)
Malaita tube-nosed fruit bat, (N. malaitensis)

The specific epithet comes from the Tolai word "masalai", which Smith and Hood translate as "forest demon or devil".{{rp|7}} Some sources place the demonic tube-nosed fruit bat as synonymous with the common tube-nosed fruit bat, Nyctimene albiventer.

Description

File:Nyctimene major.jpg]]

Bats of the Nyctimene genus are distinguished by their elongated, tubular nostrils. Individual bats are {{convert|94-103|mm|in|abbr=on}} long. They weigh {{convert|45.2-52.3|g|oz|abbr=on}}. The forearm is {{convert|63.5-67.5|mm|in|abbr=on}} long. The back is mottled reddish-brown, with a thin, {{convert|5|mm|in|abbr=on}} black stripe running from the back of the head to the base of the tail. Hairs on the dorsal side of the body are long, at {{convert|8-9|mm|in|abbr=on}} long. The ventral side is grayish-white with a yellowish-brown tint. The flight membranes are dark brown. The wings have pale yellowish-brown spots, while the ears have white spots. The forearm also has large white splotches. The nostrils are whitish. Its snout is short and narrow and its dental formula is {{DentalFormula|upper=1.1.3.1|lower=0.1.3.2}}, for a total of 24 teeth.

Biology

Its diet consists of fruit.

Range and status

So far, it is only known from New Ireland, in the Bismarck Archipelago, which is part of Papua New Guinea. It is possible that its range includes other islands in the Bismarck Archipelago, though this is currently unconfirmed. Members of this species identified so far have been found at {{convert|0-10|m|ft|abbr=on}} above sea level.

It is currently evaluated as data deficient by the IUCN. Previously in 1996, the IUCN had assessed this species as vulnerable. There has been little research regarding this species, and its population trend and geographic range are unknown. It is unknown if there are any threats to this species.

References

{{Reflist|refs=

{{cite book |last=Andersen |first=Knud |date=1912 |title=Catalogue of the Chiroptera in the collection of the British Museum |url= https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/34531#page/788/mode/2up|doi=10.5962/bhl.title.8322|location=London |publisher=British Museum (Natural History). Department of Zoology . [Mammals]. |page=788 |edition=2nd|volume=1 |author-link=Knud Andersen (mammalogist)|access-date=October 7, 2017 }}

{{cite journal|last1=Bergmans| first1=W. |date=2001| title=Notes on distribution and taxonomy of Australasian bats. I. Pteropodinae and Nyctimeninae (Mammalia, Megachiroptera, Pteropodidae)| url=http://www.repository.naturalis.nl/document/548750| journal=Beaufortia|volume=51|issue=8 |pages= 119–152| access-date=October 4, 2017}}

{{cite journal|last1=Dumont| first1=E. R.|last2= Nicolay|first2=C. W. |date=2006|title= Cross-sectional geometry of the dentary in bats|journal=Zoology|volume= 109|issue=1|pages=66–74|doi=10.1016/j.zool.2005.08.004| pmid=16377164| bibcode=2006Zool..109...66D}}

{{cite iucn|title=Nyctimene masalai |last1=Helgen |first1=K. |last2=Bonaccorso |first2=F. |date= 2008 |volume=2008 |page=e.T14959A4483409 | doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T14959A4483409.en |doi-access=free}}

{{cite journal| last1=Kitchener| first1= D. J.| last2=Packer| first2=W. C.| last3=Maryanto |first3=I| date=1993|title=Taxonomic status of Nyctimene (Chiroptera: Pteropodidae) from the Banda, Kai and Aru Islands, Maluku, Indonesia–implications for biogeography| url=http://museum.wa.gov.au/sites/default/files/TAXONOMIC%20STATUS%20OF%20NYCTIMENE%20(CHIROPTERA%20PTEROPOPIDAE)%20FROM%20THE%20BANDA,%20KAI%20AND%20ARU%20ISLANDS,%20MALUKU,%20INDONESIA%20-%20IMPLICATIO.pdf|journal=Records of the Western Australian Museum |volume= 16 |issue=3| pages= 399–417|access-date=October 4, 2017}}

{{cite journal|last1=Smith|first1=James Dale|last2=Hood|first2=Craig S.|title=A New Species of Tube-nosed Fruit Bat (Nyctimene) from the Bismarck Archipelago, Papua New Guinea|journal=Occasional Papers. The Museum. Texas Tech University|date=1983|volume=81|pages=1–14|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/237723184}}

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