Geoffroy's rousette
{{Short description|Species of bat}}
{{Speciesbox
| name = Geoffroy's rousette
| image = Pteropus amplexicaudatus - 1700-1880 - Print - Iconographia Zoologica - Special Collections University of Amsterdam - UBA01 IZ20700035.tif
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| genus = Rousettus
| species = amplexicaudatus
| authority = É. Geoffroy, 1810
| range_map = Geoffroy's Rousette area.png
| range_map_caption = Geoffroy's Rousette range
}}
Geoffroy's rousette (Rousettus amplexicaudatus) is a species of megabat or Old World fruit bats. It is one of ten species in the genus Rousettus.
Distribution
Geoffroy's rousette occurs throughout Southeast Asia and in the Malesia region of Oceania, in Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Singapore, Indonesia, the island of Borneo, East Timor, the Philippines, the Solomon Islands, Bismarck Archipelago, and Papua New Guinea.
Description
Like other fruit bats, R. amplexicaudatus has sensitive hearing and sense of smell and good eyesight which helps it to manoeuvre well during flight, specifically at night. What makes it different from other fruit bats is its echolocating ability. It can be distinguished by its grey-brown to brown upperpart which is darker on top of the head and paler underpart which is usually grey-brown.Payne, J. & Francis, C.M. (1985). A Field Guide to the Mammals of Borneo. Sabah Society: Malaysia. p. 171. It has long pale hairs on the chin and neck despite having short and sparse fur. It sometimes has pale yellow tufts of hair on the side of its neck which occur in adult for this species, especially males. Most males are substantially larger than females. The most distinguishable figure of this bat besides producing a distinctive, audible clicking call is its wings. It is attached to the sides of the back and separated by a broad band of fur. The lower incisors are bifid, the canines have a longitudinal groove on the outer surface which is slightly medial to center, and the first premolars are smaller than second premolars, especially on the upper jaw.Bonaccorso, F.J. (1998). Bats of Papua New Guinea. Washington, D.C.: Conservation International. pp. 151-155.
The Sabah Museum specimens had forearm length measurements between {{convert|82|and|876|mm}} for the females and an adult male from Sarawak had forearms {{convert|81|mm}} long. The external measurements are within the range of {{convert|78|to|87|mm}} recorded in previous studies.
Biology and ecology
Specimens in the Sabah Museum were collected from coconut plantations on Mantani Island and the highland of Crocker Range, while the one from Sarawak was from Niah Cave. This medium-sized bat normally roosts in caves, and feeds on fruit, nectar, and pollen.(Payne et al. 1985). It roosts dark caves, rock crevices and old tombs.(Lekagul and McNeely 1977).
The Monfort Bat Cave in the southern Philippines has the largest gathering of these bats.{{cite web|url=http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/04/pictures/110405-bats-swarms-caves-philippines-monfort-world-record|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110407153441/http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/04/pictures/110405%2Dbats%2Dswarms%2Dcaves%2Dphilippines%2Dmonfort%2Dworld%2Drecord/|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 7, 2011|title=Escape from the Bat Cave|publisher=National Geographic}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.redlist.org/search/details.php?species=19754 IUCN Red List]
- [http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/specimens/Rousettus.html Rousettus on Animal Diversity Web]
{{Pteropodidae|R.}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q1443996}}
Category:Bats of Southeast Asia
Category:Bats of the Philippines
Category:Mammals of Papua New Guinea
Category:Mammals of the Solomon Islands
Category:Mammals of Western New Guinea