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| Golden-crowned Flying Fox Acerodon jubatus (Escholtz, 1831) |
| Common Names: Paniki, kabag,
bayakan , Golden-capped Fruit Bat Status: Severely declining as a result of habitat destruction and heavy hunting. IUCN: Habitat: Primary amd secondory lowland forest up to 1100 m. Some roosts reported from mangrove and on small islands (Hoogstraal, 1951; Rabor, 1986). Common reports of 100,000 individuals in a colony from the late 1800s and early 1900s contrasts with recent observations of maximum colony size of 5,000 and usually far fewer (Heaney and Heideman, 1987; Heaney and Utzurrum, 1991; Lawrence, 1939; Mickleburgh et al., 1992; ; Mudar and Allen, 1986; Rickart et al., 1993;Taylor, 1934; Utzurrum, 1992; ), but recent sitings on Boracay (Marr & Ingle, Unpubl. data) may represent this species. Possibly extinct on Siquijor (Lepiten, 1995) . Distribution: Endemic to the Philippines; widespread with the exception of the Palawan faunal region and the Batanes and Babuyan groups. Recorded from Basilan (MCZ), Bongao (AMNH), Cabo (USNM), Bohol (FMNH), Dinagat (DMNH), Jolo (FMNH), Leyte (FMNH), Luzon (Abra [MCZ], Isabela [AMNH], Quezon [USNM], Rizal [AMNH], and Tarlac [USNM] provinces), Marinduque (UPD), Maripipi (USNM), Mindanao (Davao del Norte [FMNH], Davao del Sur [FMNH], Lanao del Norte [DMNH], Lanao del Sur [DMNH], Maguindanao [FMNH], Misamis Oriental [DMNH], South Cotabato [USNM], Sultan Kudarat [AMNH], Surigao del Sur [DMNH], Zamboanga del Norte [FMNH], Zamboanga del Sur [AMNH] provinces), Mindoro (USNM), Negros (FMNH), Panay (FMNH), Sibutu (DMNH), Siquijor (FMNH). Description / Behavior: Head and body length is 178-290 mm and forearm length is 125-203 mm; there is no tail. The wingspan of the largest species, A. jubatus, is 1.51-1.7 meters. A male of that species weighed 1,050 grams (Mudar and Allen 1986). Coloration is variable. The forehead and sides of the head are often dark brown or black, an orange or golden yellow nape may be evident, 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. This genus is externally indistinguishable from Pteropus but differs in dental features.
Acerodon has been found roosting in clumps of bamboo, hardwood trees, and
swampy forest, usually on small offshore islands. Taylor (1934) mentioned
a colony of A. jubatus and Pteropus vampyrus that covered an
area of 8-10 ha. and contained some 150,000 bats. These bats flew 9-16 km
into the mountains in the evening to feed on wild fruit. Roosts in tall trees,
and forages in forest on figs and other wild fruit. A. jubatus mates
in November and females bear one pup in April. Conservation Efforts/Measures: Wildlife Ecologist for the study of the Giant Fruit Bat , Bat Learning Center, Subic Photograph Information: Courtesy of Mr. William Oliver [ Flora and Fauna International] [left], JC Gonzales and the Museum of Natural History [middle], Sam Stier and the Bat Learning Center [right - taken in 1999] News Update: Courtesy of Ricky Floretino (click here to read news item) |
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