Nyctimene draconilla, Thomas, 1922

Don E. Wilson & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2019, Pteropodidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 9 Bats, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 16-162 : 119

105.

Dragon Tube-nosed Fruit Bat

Nyctimene draconilla

French: Nyctimene dragon / German: Drachen-Rohrennasenflughund / Spanish: Nyctimeno dragén

Other common names: Dragon Tube-nosed Bat, Lesser Tube-nosed Bat

Taxonomy. Nyctimene draconilla Thomas, 1922 ,

“Bivak-island, Lorentz River, S. W. New Guinea,” Indonesia.

Nyctimene draconilla 1s in the albiventer species group. Its taxonomic status is uncertain, and it might be best considered conspecific with N. albiventer . Monotypic.

Distribution. Lowlands on either side of highlands of C New Guinea; possibly NE Papua New Guinea, although these records might not represent this species.

Descriptive notes. Head—body 70-88 mm, tail 15-22 mm, ear 10- 7-17 mm, hindfoot 9-13 mm, forearm 48-3-54- 2 mm; weight 26-31 g. The Dragon Tube-nosed Fruit Bat is very similar to the Common Tube-nosed Fruit Bat ( NN. albiventer ) but differs by having darker spotting on wing membrane, being slightly smaller, and having shorter and less robust canines. Rostrum is short, with long tubular divergent nostrils that curve outward at rims. Ears are long, with pointed tips; eyes are large, with amber irises. Dorsal pelage hairs are tricolored, with medium brown bases, pale gray-brown middles, and brown tips; ventral pelage and flanks range from golden to whitish or white, with gold variably on chest. There is also distinct narrow dark brown dorsal stripe extending from rump to between shoulder blades and is just barely noticeable on nape. Wings, nostrils, and ears are variably covered in bright yellow spots. Wings are greenish black to black, with variable amounts of yellow and dark spotting; second digit of wing has a claw, and wing attaches at second digit of foot. Tail is very short, black, and wrinkled, and narrow uropatagium connects at base and stretches to calcar at ankles. Claws are black. Skull and mandible are robust, and rostrum is short. Single lower incisor is completely deciduous, falling out before adulthood; lower molars are broad and rounded in dorsal view; C, replaces incisors and is long and powerful; canines are shorter and less robust than in the Common Tube-nosed Fruit Bat; and P, is elongate and longer than P, and P,.

Habitat. Associated with freshwater swamps and rivers, with one record in rural lowlands, from sea level up to elevations of c. 100 m.

Food and Feeding. No information.

Breeding. Pregnant Dragon Tube-nosed Fruit Bats were captured in August-September.

Activity patterns. No information.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. No information.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Data Deficient on The IUCN Red List. Virtually nothing is known about the Dragon Tube-nosed Fruit Bat, and its taxonomic statusis uncertain. Additional research on its taxonomy, ecology, and threats is needed before a conservation assessment can be made.

Bibliography. Bergmans (2001), Bonaccorso (1998), Flannery (1995b), Giannini & Simmons (2007a), Helgen (2007a), Hutson, Suyanto, Helgen & Bonaccorso (2008c), Pattiselanno (2013).

Figures

95. African Straw-colored Fruit Bat (Eidolon helvum), 96. Madagascan Straw-colored Fruit Bat (Eidolon dupreanum), 98. Steadfast Tube-nosed Fruit Bat (Paranyctimene tenax), 99. Broad-striped Tube-nosed Fruit Bat (Nyctimene aello), 100. Round-eared Tube-nosed Fruit Bat (Nyctimene cyclotis), 101. Mountain Tube-nosed Fruit Bat (Nyctimene certans), 102. Happy Tube-nosed Fruit Bat (Nyctimene wrighiae), 103. Lesser Tube-nosed Fruit Bat (Nyctimene varius), 104. Common Tube-nosed Fruit Bat (Nyctimene albiventer), 105. Dragon Tube-nosed Fruit Bat (Nyctimene draconilla), 106. Demonic Tube-nosed Fruit Bat (Nyctimene masalai), 107. Malaita Tube-nosed Fruit Bat (Nyctimene malaitensis), 108. Umboi Tube-nosed Fruit Bat (Nyctimene vizcaccia), 109. Island Tube-nosed Fruit Bat (Nyctimene major), 110. Philippine Tube-nosed Fruit Bat (Nyctimene rabori), 111. Pallas’s Tube-nosed Fruit Bat (Nyctimene cephalotes), 112. Keast’s Tube-nosed Fruit Bat (Nyctimene keasti), 113. Queensland Tube-nosed Fruit Bat (Nyctimene robinsont)

Distribution. Lowlands on either side of highlands of C New Guinea ; possibly NE Papua New Guinea , although these records might not represent this species.