Cynopterus brachyotis (Müller, 1838)

Pelage and Collar Coloration

Cynopterus brachyotis, the lesser short-nosed fruit bat, is generally brown to yellowish brown with a brighter collar. Adult males have dark orange collars, while adult females have yellowish collars; some immature bats have an indistinct collar.

External Soft Part Markings

The edges of the ears and the wing bones are usually white.

Facial and Dental Features

This species has two pairs of lower incisors, a fox-like face, and large dark eyes.

Body Measurements

Head and body length ranges from 7–8 cm (2.8–3.1 in), forearm length is 6–7 cm (2.4–2.8 in), tail length is 0.8–1.0 cm (0.31–0.39 in), and ear length is 1.4–1.6 cm (0.55–0.63 in).

Subspecies Count

There are nine recognized subspecies of the lesser short-nosed fruit bat.

Synonymized Scientific Names

Corbet and Hill listed 19 alternate scientific names for C. brachyotis, which include: Pachysoma brachyotis, P. duvaucelii, P. brevicaudatum, P. luzoniense, C. grandidieri, C. marginatus var. scherzeri, C. marginatus var. ceylonensis, C. marginatus var. philippensis, C. marginatus var. cuminggii, C. marginatus var. andamanensis, C. brachyoma, C. montanoi, C. minutus, C. minor, C. babi, C. archipelagus and C. nusatenggara.

Taxonomic Revisions

Kitchener and Maharadatunkamsi considered luzoniensis and minutus to be separate species, while Hill and Thonglongya transferred angulatus to C. sphinx.

Lifespan

The lifespan of the lesser short-nosed fruit bat is approximately 20 to 30 years.

Type Specimen Collection Details

The type specimens of the lesser short-nosed fruit bat were collected from the Dewei River in Borneo on September 12, 1836, and at Naga Cave near Jammut on the Teweh River, Borneo.

Species Range

This species is widely distributed in Sri Lanka, southwest and northeast India, Bangladesh, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, southern China, southern Burma, Indochina, Thailand, the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Java, Bali, Sulawesi, the Philippines, and the Lesser Sunda Islands.

Altitudinal Range

It ranges from sea level to 1,600 metres (5,200 ft) in altitude.

Nominate Subspecies Distribution

The nominate subspecies, C. b. brachyotis, is distributed in Borneo, Lombok, Peninsular Malaysia, the Philippines and Sulawesi.

Subspecies Distributions

C. b. altitudinis is confined to the highlands of Peninsular Malaysia, from the Cameron Highlands to Gunung Bunga Buah. C. b. brachysoma is found on the Andaman Islands; C. b. cylonensis is found in Sri Lanka; C. b. concolor is found in Enggano; C. b. hoffetti is found in Vietnam; C. b. insularum is found on the Kangean Islands; C. b. javanicus is found on Java; and C. b. minutus is found on Nias.

Mating System

The mating system of lesser short-nosed fruit bats is polygynous.

Philippine Breeding Patterns

In most Philippine populations, females give birth twice a year, and pregnant females have been found in almost every month.

Gestation and Weaning Periods

Gestation lasts approximately 3.5 to 4 months. Mothers nurse their young with milk for about six to eight weeks.

Sexual Maturity Timing

Males take around one year to reach sexual maturity, while most females become pregnant at approximately six to eight months of age.

Peninsular Malaysia Breeding Traits

Medway observed that breeding is non-seasonal in Peninsular Malaysia, where females produce a single young and carry it during the early stage of its life.

Thailand Breeding Patterns

Breeding is also non-seasonal in Thailand, though most pregnancies occur from March to June, with peaks in January and September.

Lactation Timing

Lactation aligns with the peak of the rainy season and the annual fruiting season.

Parental Care

Both sexes participate in caring for the young. Males play an active role in lactation and feeding the young, and have mammary glands that are the same size as those of females, exceeding 8% of their overall body mass.