Haplonycteris fischeri
Lawrence, 1939. Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., 86:33.

©2002

ORDER—CHIROPTERA
FAMILY—Pteropodidae

COMMON NAME—Philippine pygmy fruit bat.

DISTRIBUTION—Endemic to the Philippines; widespread excluding the Camiguin, Palawan, Batanes/Babuyan, and Sibuyan faunal regions. Recorded from Biliran (USNM), Bohol (USNM), Catanduanes (FMNH), Dinagat (USNM), Leyte (USNM), Luzon (Auroa [UPD], Cagayan [UMMZ], Camarines Sur [USNM], Isabela [AMNH], Laguna [UPLB], Quezon [UMMZ], and Tarlac [USNM] provinces), Marinduque (UPD), Mindanao (Agusan del Norte [UMMZ], Bukidnon [FMNH], Davao del Norte [UPLB], Davao del Sur [UPLB], Davao Oriental [UPLB], Misamis Occidental [UPLB], Misamis Oriental [UPLB], South Cotabato [UPLB], Surigao del Norte [UPLB], Surigao del Sur [UPLB], Zamboanga del Norte [UPLB], and Zamboanga del Sur [DMNH] provinces), Mindoro (FMNH), Negros (FMNH), and Panay (SU). The record from Palawan reported by Kock (1969b) probably is erroneous.

HABITAT—One of the most common fruit bats in primary forest, especially at middle elevations; it is rare in secondary forest, and absent in entirely agricultural areas. Within forest, it occurs from about 150 m to 2250 m; abundance usually increases with elevation up to about 1200 m- 1500 m, and then declines (Heaney et al., 1989, 1991, in press; Heideman & Heaney, 1989; Rickart et al., 1993).

STATUS—Currently stable, but has declined in recent decades as a result of habitat destruction by logging. IUCN: Vulnerable (but we recommend delisting)

COMMENT—Genetic variation was studied by Peterson and Heaney (1993) and reproductive biology by Heideman (1989).

NOTE ADDED IN 2005--Esselstyn et al. (2004) failed to capture any of this species on Palawan Island despite extensive netting, further supporting the statement by Heaney et al. (1998) was erroneously reported from Palawan by Kock (1969b).

©2002 (photograph by P. Heideman)

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©2002 Heaney et al., Mammals of the Philippines
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