Specimens examined(four males and three females; five in alcohol and two skin-onlys).—Fauro, in April, 23727, 23790; Guadalcanal in May and June, 23823, 23931; Pavuvo (Russell Islands) in August and October, USNM 277887, USNM 283872-3.Measurements.—External measurements of two males and two females are, respectively, as follows: Length of head and body, 152, 128, 132, 155; hind foot, 29, 26, 31, 28; ear, 16, 14, 14, 17; length of forearm, 79, 76, 86, 90.
Specimens examined(four males and three females; five in alcohol and two skin-onlys).—Fauro, in April, 23727, 23790; Guadalcanal in May and June, 23823, 23931; Pavuvo (Russell Islands) in August and October, USNM 277887, USNM 283872-3.
Measurements.—External measurements of two males and two females are, respectively, as follows: Length of head and body, 152, 128, 132, 155; hind foot, 29, 26, 31, 28; ear, 16, 14, 14, 17; length of forearm, 79, 76, 86, 90.
Remarks.—Heretofore,Pteropus woodfordiwas known from New Georgia, Guadalcanal, Kolombangara, and Banika (seeFig. 7); specimens from Fauro and Pavuvo islands, listed above, provide new northern localities of record for this species.
Judging by small size and unfused epiphyses, a bat obtained in April and another obtained in June are subadults. Specimens of adults, examined by me, agree well with the descriptions ofP. woodfordiby Thomas (1888a:156) and Andersen (1912:407-409), but are slightly smaller than specimens listed by Sanborn and Beecher (1947:389). Color of pelage in this species seems to vary. Adults seen have a pale head and mantle, contrasting strongly with the dark back. Andersen (1912:409) and Lawrence (1945:61) discussed individuals that had scattered silvery hairs mixed with dark fur dorsally and darker mantles that did not contrast noticeably with the rest of the dorsum.
Lawrence (1945:389) namedPteropus austinias a new species closely related toP. woodfordiand other species of theP. scapulatusgroup of Andersen (1912:402) and Tate (1942:336). Sanborn and Beecher (1947:389), studied a series ofP. woodfordifrom Banika and Guadalcanal and found that skulls of two subadults agreed well with cranial characteristics ascribed toP. austini, which was based on two subadults. Lawrence (1945:61) stated also that "the interfemoral membrane is entirely absent medially inaustini, while inwoodfordiit is present as a barely discernible ridge 8 mm. wide." Andersen (1912:408) had earlier reported that in the type ofwoodfordithe interfemoral membrane was "undeveloped in [the] centre." In 13 adults (in alcohol) studied by Sanborn and Beecher (1947:389), as well as in adults examined by me, the uropatagium is not present. In size, however, these specimens agree with dimensions given forwoodfordiby Thomas (1888a:156) and Andersen (1912:410); for example, length of forearm is 93-99. According to Lawrence (1945:59)austini, in which the interfemoral membrane is lacking, is smaller thanwoodfordiand has a forearm of about 84. In two juveniles ofP. woodfordiin the U. S. National Museum, the medially-developed interfemoral membrane is about 7 wide. One specimen has small but distinct calcars whereas the other (slightly larger) apparently lacks calcars. This suggests individual variation in the presence or absence, as well as in the size, of the uropatagium inPteropus woodfordi.
Sanborn and Beecher (1947:389) decided that "until fully adult specimens showing the characters ofaustiniare available, it best be considered a synonym ofwoodfordi." For the following reasons I agree with these authors: (1)austiniis known from only two specimens, both of which are apparently subadults; (2)austiniis reported to have a forearm 84 long and no interfemoral membrane, whereaswoodfordihas a forearm about 96 long and an interfemoral membrane that is only slightly developed; (3) specimens that agree in size and cranial characters with the type ofwoodfordibut that lack an interfemoral membrane have been obtained; and (4) skulls of subadults ofwoodfordiagree with the description of skulls ofaustini.
Sanborn (1931:19) reported that specimens ofPteropus woodfordiwere obtained at night, while feeding on young green coconuts. Lawrence (1945:62) reported that in the late afternoon a collector found individuals ofaustini[=woodfordi] in the fronds of a coconut tree, apparently feeding on pollen shoots. Sanborn and Beecher (1947:388) have reported malaria (Plasmodium) inP. woodfordiobtained on Guadalcanal. They suggested that malaria might have rendered one individual helpless because when it was found, on the ground, no wounds were evident and parasites were present in the blood.
Fig. 7.Distribution ofPteropus woodfordi() andP. mahaganus(). For names of islands seeFig. 2.
Fig. 7.Distribution ofPteropus woodfordi() andP. mahaganus(). For names of islands seeFig. 2.
Pteropus mahaganusSanborn
1931.Pteropus mahaganusSanborn, Publ. Field Mus. Nat. Hist., Zool. Ser., 18:19, February 12, type from Santa Ysabel, also reported from Bougainville; 1954, Laurie and Hill, List of land mammals of New Guinea, Celebes and adjacent islands, p. 39, June 30.
Specimens examined(one male and two females; one in alcohol).—Bougainville, in August and October, USNM 276972, USNM 277104-5.Measurements.—Measurements of one male and two females are, respectively, as follows: Length of head and body, 180, 204, 198; hind foot, 42, 38, 44; ear, 25, 23, 22; length of forearm, 134, 138, 140. Measurements of the skull of the male and one female are, respectively, as follows: Greatest length of skull, 52.5, 55.8; condylobasal length, 50.9, 54.3; palatal length, 24.1, 26.0;zygomatic breadth, 28.9, 32.5; breadth across first upper molars, 14.4, 15.0; width of M1, 2.2, 2.2; length of maxillary tooth-row, 17.4, 18.4; length of mandibular tooth-row, 20.1, 21.4.
Specimens examined(one male and two females; one in alcohol).—Bougainville, in August and October, USNM 276972, USNM 277104-5.
Measurements.—Measurements of one male and two females are, respectively, as follows: Length of head and body, 180, 204, 198; hind foot, 42, 38, 44; ear, 25, 23, 22; length of forearm, 134, 138, 140. Measurements of the skull of the male and one female are, respectively, as follows: Greatest length of skull, 52.5, 55.8; condylobasal length, 50.9, 54.3; palatal length, 24.1, 26.0;zygomatic breadth, 28.9, 32.5; breadth across first upper molars, 14.4, 15.0; width of M1, 2.2, 2.2; length of maxillary tooth-row, 17.4, 18.4; length of mandibular tooth-row, 20.1, 21.4.
Remarks.—Sanborn (1931:19-21) describedPteropus mahaganuson basis of six specimens, five from Santa Ysabel and one from Bougainville. The latter was in poor condition and only provisionally allocated to this species. The specimens examined by me (listed above) confirm the occurrence ofP. mahaganuson Bougainville.
Sanborn (1931:20) describedmahaganusas "similar to and about the size of [Pteropus scapulatus] from Australia, but lighter in color," and considered it, along withP. woodfordi, a member of thePteropus scapulatusgroup of Andersen (1912:402) and Tate (1942:336). I would judge, however, thatP. mahaganusandP. woodfordiare much more closely related to one another than toP. scapulatusof Australia. The only significant characteristic that the latter has in common with the two species from the Solomons is small cheek-teeth. In fact, teeth ofscapulatusare relatively smaller than teeth of eithermahaganusorwoodfordi. Also, inscapulatusthe upper canines are widely separated due to lateral expansion of the palate at that point, whereas inmahaganusandwoodfordithe width across the upper canines is relatively much less.
DobsoniaPalmer
1898.DobsoniaPalmer, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 12:114, April 30.
1810.Cephalotes(part) É. Geoffroy, Ann. du Mus. d'Hist. Nat., 15:104.
Dobsonia, a genus of large to medium-sized fruit bats, occurring from Celebes to the Solomon Islands, contains at least nine species. One species and its two subspecies are endemic to the Solomons.
Dobsoniadiffers from all other genera of megachiropteran bats in the Solomons by combining absence of a small claw on the second digit and presence of external tail vertebrae.
The cranium ofDobsoniaresembles, in some ways, the cranium ofRousettusas well as that ofPteropus. Even so, inDobsoniathe rostrum is shorter and the cheek-teeth, especially in the upper jaw, are more crowded. The anterior part of the mandible is narrow and the lower incisors are diminutive and often concealed by the flesh of the gum.
Dobsonia inermis
In a review of the genusDobsonia, Andersen (1909c:532) named and describedD. inermisandD. neseafrom the Solomons. Specimens ofDobsonia inermisfrom San Cristobal and Ugi were said to differ from specimens ofD. neseafrom Alu, Shortland, and Rubiana in having perpendicular as opposed to anteriorly slanted upper canines. Andersen (1909c:532) reported that the two species were of "... the same general size." Troughton (1936:348-349) studied specimens ofDobsoniafrom Bougainville and Santa Ysabel and, because of individual variation in proclivity of the upper canines, concluded thatD. neseawas conspecific withD. inermis. He (p. 349) noted that the ears were shorter ininermisthan innesea, but the size of teeth showed insular variation and a "... confusing amount of intergradation ... [that obscures] ... diagnostic importance."
Specimens ofDobsoniafrom Choiseul are smaller (externally and cranially) than those from Alu, Shortland, Rubiana, Bougainville, Fauro, Vella Lavella, Guadalcanal, Florida, Ugi, San Cristobal, and Rennell. Specimens from Santa Ysabel (seeFig. 8) are intermediate in size between those from Choiseul and the other islands listed. Judging from available specimens, two subspecies ofDobsonia inermisoccur in the Solomons. Specimens from Choiseul (see A,Fig. 8), which are smaller than those from other islands, represent one subspecies (heretofore unrecognized), whereas specimens from other islands (except Santa Ysabel) represent a second subspecies. Specimens from Santa Ysabel are slightly larger than those on Choiseul and are regarded as intergrades between the two subspecies. Specimens from Rennell, Ugi, San Cristobal, Florida, Fauro, and Guadalcanal are slightly smaller than those from Bougainville, Vella Lavella, Shortland, and Rubiana, but the differences are not great enough to warrant recognition of two subspecies. Therefore, the subspecific nameneseais arranged as a synonym ofinermis, which has priority, and the latter name is used for specimens ofDobsonia inermisfrom the Solomon islands other than Choiseul and Santa Ysabel. Additional remarks on the distribution of this species are in the section on Zoogeography and Speciation.
Pohle (1953:130) suggested thatDobsonia inermis(as well asD. crenulataandD. praedatrix) is conspecific withD. viridis, but Laurie and Hill (1954:41) did not adopt his suggestion. I have not seen adequate series ofcrenulata,praedatrix, andviridis(none of which occurs in the Solomons) to judge systematic relationships of these kinds; therefore I follow Laurie and Hill.
Dobsonia inermis inermisAndersen
1909.Dobsonia inermisAndersen, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., ser. 8, 4:532, December, type from San Cristobal; 1912, Andersen, Catalogue of the Chiroptera ... British Museum, 1:475.
1936.Dobsonia inermis inermis, Troughton, Rec. Australian Mus., 14:349, April 7, from Santa Ysabel; 1954, Laurie and Hill, List of land mammals of New Guinea, Celebes and adjacent islands, p. 41, June 30; 1956, Hill, The natural history of Rennell Island, British Solomon Islands, 1:74, November 28, from Rennell Island.
1878.Cephalotes peroni(part), Dobson, Catalogue of the Chiroptera ... British Museum, p. 91; 1879, Trouessart, Rev. Mag. Zool., 3:208; 1887, Thomas, Proc. Zool. Soc. London, p. 323, March 15, from Ugi and San Cristobal; 1888, Thomas, Proc. Zool. Soc. London, p. 476, December 4; 1897, Trouessart, Catalogus Mammalium ..., 1:87.
1899.Dobsonia peroni(part), Trouessart, Catalogus Mammalium ..., 2:1278.
1909.Dobsonia neseaAndersen, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., ser. 8, 4:532, December 1, type from Shortland Island; 1912, Andersen, Catalogue of the Chiroptera ... British Museum, 1:476, from Shortland and Rubiana; 1931, Sanborn, Publ. Field Mus. Nat. Hist., Zool. Ser., 18:22, February 12, from San Cristobal.
1936.Dobsonia inermis nesea, Troughton, Rec. Australian Mus., 14:348, April 7, from Bougainville; 1953, Pohle, Z. Säugetierk., 17:130, October 27; 1954, Laurie and Hill, List of land mammals of New Guinea, Celebes and adjacent islands, p. 41, June 30, from New Georgia.
Specimens examined(13 males and three females; three in alcohol, crania extracted and cleaned).—Fauro in April, 23728, 23740, 23751; Vella Lavella in November, 23134-36, 23141, 23145, 23147, 23149, 23151, 23153; Guadalcanal in May and June, 23865, 23914, 24008; Florida in October, 24416.Measurements.—See tables 2 and 3.
Specimens examined(13 males and three females; three in alcohol, crania extracted and cleaned).—Fauro in April, 23728, 23740, 23751; Vella Lavella in November, 23134-36, 23141, 23145, 23147, 23149, 23151, 23153; Guadalcanal in May and June, 23865, 23914, 24008; Florida in October, 24416.
Measurements.—See tables 2 and 3.
Remarks.—Heretofore,Dobsonia inermis inermiswas unreported from Fauro, Vella Lavella, Guadalcanal, and Florida. Apparently the subspecies occurs on most islands of the archipelago (seeFig. 9).
In coloration and most cranial dimensions the specimens listed above agree with specimens ofD. i. inermisfrom Alu, Shortland, and Rubiana (Andersen, 1909c:532; 1912:475, 476), Bougainville (Troughton, 1936:348, 349), and Rennell (Hill, 1963:74). The forearm in the adult male holotype of "nesea," from Shortland, is 109.5 as opposed to 109.0 in an adult female topotype ofinermisfrom Ugi (Andersen, 1912:478) in the southeastern part of the archipelago (seeFig. 9). Forearms of specimens ofD. i. inermisfrom Vella Lavella are 107 to 112 (measurements from labels because forearms of these specimens were broken and therefore could not be remeasured). Forearms of specimens from Fauro, Florida, Guadalcanal, and Rennell are 103.6 to 110.0 (see Hill, 1956:74). Variation in length of forearm probably is not significant because no cline is evident (seeFig. 9andTable 2).
In 1964, 11 specimens ofDobsonia inermiswere collected on Choiseul. They are smaller, externally and cranially, than specimens ofD. inermisfrom Sun Cristobal, Ugi, Rennell, Guadalcanal, Florida, Rubiana, Vella Lavella, Shortland, Alu, Bougainville, and Fauro, and may be named and described as follows:
Dobsonia inermis minimus, new subspecies
Type.—Adult male skin and skull, in good condition (originally stored in 70 per cent alcohol for about one year), no. BBM-BSIP 23716, Bernice P. Bishop Museum; from Choiseul Island, British Solomon Islands Protectorate; obtained on 20 March 1964 by Philip Temple, original number 1524.
Distribution.—Choiseul Island (type locality); intergrades from Santa Ysabel also assigned to this subspecies.
Diagnosis.—Size small for species; wing membranes, feet, and ears black; dorsal surface of interfemoral membrane sparsely set with silvery hairs, other membranes naked; hair soft, medium length (10 on mantle, 5 on crown), black hairs and scattered white hairs on face and crown; fur of dorsal surface of mantle composed of whitish hairs having faint olive cast imparting general color of Buffy-Citrine; hair of venter short (about 5), soft, and fine; general coloration Buffy-Citrine; cranium delicate; rostrum narrow in dorsal aspect (nasals not expanded laterally); forehead (junction of nasals and frontals) pronounced in lateral aspect; teeth resembling those of other subspecies ofD. inermisbut slightly smaller.
Comparisons.—From adults ofDobsonia inermis inermis, which occurs on Rennell, San Cristobal, Ugi, Malaita, Florida, Guadalcanal, Rubiana, Vella Lavella, Shortland, Alu, Bougainville, and Fauro,minimusdiffers in being smaller. Average length of mandible 31.2 and 33.4. For other measurements seeTable 2.
FromDobsonia praedatrix, which occurs on New Britain, New Ireland, and Duke of York (northward of the Solomons),minimusdiffers in being smaller in all dimensions; length of forearm averaging 100.5 as opposed to 116.0, and greatest length of skull 42.4 as opposed to 50.0.
Fig. 8.Greatest length of skull plotted against zygomatic breadth for two subspecies ofDobsonia inermis. Symbols representD. i. inermis(),D. i. minimus(), and intergrades assigned tominimus(). Capital letters are used to relate groups of specimens to the island or islands from which they were collected; spatial distribution of specimens indicated in the scatter diagram thus is shown in the inset map. Specimens from Santa Ysabel and Bougainville are deposited in the Australian Museum. The type specimen ofD. i. inermisis labeled "E." For names of islands seeFig. 2.
Fig. 8.Greatest length of skull plotted against zygomatic breadth for two subspecies ofDobsonia inermis. Symbols representD. i. inermis(),D. i. minimus(), and intergrades assigned tominimus(). Capital letters are used to relate groups of specimens to the island or islands from which they were collected; spatial distribution of specimens indicated in the scatter diagram thus is shown in the inset map. Specimens from Santa Ysabel and Bougainville are deposited in the Australian Museum. The type specimen ofD. i. inermisis labeled "E." For names of islands seeFig. 2.
Fig. 9.Distribution ofDobsonia inermis inermis() andD. inermis minimus(). For names of islands seeFig. 2.
Fig. 9.Distribution ofDobsonia inermis inermis() andD. inermis minimus(). For names of islands seeFig. 2.
Table 2.Average and Extreme Measurements of Two Subspecies ofDobsonia inermis.
Measurements.—Comparative measurements of the subspeciesinermisandminimusare given inTable 2. Some measurements of the type are as follows: Length of head and body, 147; tail vertebrae, 31; hind foot, 25; ear, 21; length of forearm, 99.5; 2nd metacarpal, 42.8; 3rd metacarpal, 62.7; 4th metacarpal, 58.5; 5th metacarpal, 59.1; greatest length of skull, 42.2; condylobasal length, 40.6; zygomatic breadth, 25.8; breadth of braincase, 16.8; length of maxillary tooth-row, 15.8; length of mandible, 31.2.
Remarks.—Dobsonia inermis minimusis the smallest subspecies ofDobsonia inermis. Specimens from Santa Ysabel, southeastward of Choiseul, are slightly larger than the type and paratypes ofminimus. As can be seen in the scatter diagram (Fig. 8), a male from Santa Ysabel is as large as one male and most females ofD. i. inermis. The other three specimens from Santa Ysabel also are slightly larger than specimens ofminimusfrom Choiseul, but are much smaller than specimens ofD. i. inermis, and, therefore, are referred toD. i. minimus.
Although there is a cline in size ofDobsonia inermisfrom Choiseul to Florida (generally southward;Fig. 9), no cline in size is apparent between Choiseul and Fauro (generally westward). Specimens ofD. inermisfrom Fauro are average for the subspeciesinermis; there is no evidence, in the small series available, of intergradation betweenminimuson Choiseul andinermison Fauro.
Specimens examined(eight males and three females, all originally in alcohol; seven crania, all adults, extracted and cleaned).—Choiseul in March, 23565, 23628, 23637, 23665-67, 23640, 23714, 23716 (holotype), 23717, 23720. Ellis LeG. Troughton kindly examined and measured nos. AM-M. 3693 ♂, AM-M. 3694 ♂, AM-M. 3937 ♀, and AM-M. 3940 ♀, from Santa Ysabel in the Australian Museum.
Specimens examined(eight males and three females, all originally in alcohol; seven crania, all adults, extracted and cleaned).—Choiseul in March, 23565, 23628, 23637, 23665-67, 23640, 23714, 23716 (holotype), 23717, 23720. Ellis LeG. Troughton kindly examined and measured nos. AM-M. 3693 ♂, AM-M. 3694 ♂, AM-M. 3937 ♀, and AM-M. 3940 ♀, from Santa Ysabel in the Australian Museum.
Subfamily Macroglossinae
MacroglossusF. Cuvier
1824.MacroglossusF. Cuvier, Des dents des mammiferes ... zoologiques, p. 248.
1840.KiodotusBlyth,inCuvier's animal kingdom ..., p. 69.
1891.CarponycterisLydekker,inFlower and Lydekker, mammals living and extinct, p. 654.
1902.OdontonycterisJentink, Notes Leyden Mus., 23:140, July 15.
Macroglossus, the widest-ranging genus of macroglossine bats, occurs from southeastern Asia to the southern islands of the Solomon Archipelago (see Ellerman and Morrison-Scott, 1966:101; Laurie and Hill, 1954:44). One species, known also from Celebes and New Guinea, occurs in the Solomons and is represented there by an endemic subspecies.
Numerous generic names have been applied, at one time or another, to bats now considered asMacroglossus. Trouessart (1904:65) and Miller (1907:70) listed the one bat of this genus occurring in the Solomons underCarponycterisandKiodotus, respectively. Andersen (1911:642; 1912:767) and, later, Sanborn (1931:22) identified this bat asMacroglossus lagochilus microtus. Troughton (1936:350), reporting an extension of range of this species in the Solomons, used the generic nameOdontonycteriswithout explanation. Andersen (1912:754) pointed out that Jentink originally established the nameOdontonycterison the basis of an extra premolar in each upper jaw as opposed to the usual two inMacroglossus, and arrangedOdontonycterisas a synonym ofMacroglossusbecause "in no genus of Megachiroptera are dental anomalies of so frequent occurrence as inMacroglossus, and on no point of the jaws are theseanomalies ... so often met with as on that occupied by the molar series." Sanborn (1931:22) and Phillips (1966:27) noted variation in number of incisors inMacroglossusas well as inMelonycteris, another macroglossine genus. All of the more recent workers (Ellerman and Morrison-Scott, 1966; Pohle, 1953; Laurie and Hill, 1954) use the nameMacroglossus.
Macroglossus lagochilus
Macroglossus lagochilushas at least three subspecies, one of which is endemic to the Solomons. The species ranges from Celebes on the west to the Solomon Islands on the east, occurring not only in New Guinea but also on many of the small adjacent islands (see Laurie and Hill, 1954:44).
Fig. 10.Distribution ofMacroglossus lagochilus microtus. For names of islands seeFig. 2.
Fig. 10.Distribution ofMacroglossus lagochilus microtus. For names of islands seeFig. 2.
Macroglossus lagochilus microtusAndersen
1911.Macroglossus lagochilus microtusAndersen, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., Ser. 8, 7:642, June, type from Guadalcanal, additional specimens from Florida; 1912, Andersen, Catalogue of the Chiroptera ... British Museum, 1:767; 1931, Sanborn, Publ. Field Mus. Nat. Hist., Zool. Ser., 18:22, February 12, from San Cristobal; 1953, Pohle, Z. Säugetierk., 17:130, October 27, from Bougainville; 1954, Laurie and Hill, List of land mammals of New Guinea, Celebes and adjacent islands, p. 44, June 30.
1888.Macroglossus australis(part). Thomas, Proc. Zool. Soc. London, p. 476, December 4, from Guadalcanal.
1904.Carponycteris nana(part), Trouessart, Catalogus Mammalium ..., Suppl., p. 65.
1907.Kiodotussp., Miller, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., 57:70, June 29.
1936.Odontonycteris lagochilus microtus, Troughton, Rec. Australian Mus., 14:350, April 7, from Bougainville.
Specimens examined(14 males and 16 females; in alcohol).—Choiseul in March, 23654-57, 23614, 23629, 23643, 23645, 23647, 23677-79, 23684; Vella Lavella in December, 23277-79, 23283-84; Fauro in April, 23765; Guadalcanal in May and June, 23830, 23864, 23935; Kolombangara in January, 23385, 23399, 23397, 23407, 23420-21; Santa Ysabel in June, 24067; Malaita in June, 24067.Measurements.—Average and extreme external measurements of 14 males and 15 females are as follows: Length of head and body, 68.3 (63-72); tail vertebrae present but scarcely perceptible and therefore not measured; hind foot, 11.4 (9.0-12.9); ear, 12.0 (10.0-12.9); length of forearm, 37.6 (36.2-39.9).
Specimens examined(14 males and 16 females; in alcohol).—Choiseul in March, 23654-57, 23614, 23629, 23643, 23645, 23647, 23677-79, 23684; Vella Lavella in December, 23277-79, 23283-84; Fauro in April, 23765; Guadalcanal in May and June, 23830, 23864, 23935; Kolombangara in January, 23385, 23399, 23397, 23407, 23420-21; Santa Ysabel in June, 24067; Malaita in June, 24067.
Measurements.—Average and extreme external measurements of 14 males and 15 females are as follows: Length of head and body, 68.3 (63-72); tail vertebrae present but scarcely perceptible and therefore not measured; hind foot, 11.4 (9.0-12.9); ear, 12.0 (10.0-12.9); length of forearm, 37.6 (36.2-39.9).
Remarks.—The distribution ofMacroglossus lagochilus microtushas not been well known. Specimens herein reported from Choiseul, Fauro, and Vella Lavella provide new records of distribution. As shown on Figure 10, the subspecies occurs throughout the Solomon Islands.
Macroglossus lagochilus microtusdiffers slightly fromM. l. nanusMatschie, the subspecies of the Bismarck Archipelago and Admiralty Islands to the north of the Solomons.M. l. nanusaverages slightly larger thanmicrotus(see Andersen, 1912:768-769, for comparative measurements) but otherwise closely resembles it.
Individual variation is evident in several measurements of the specimens at hand (in length of forearm, for example) but no clines are apparent. Four females obtained in March were lactating, as was one taken in December and one taken in January.
MelonycterisDobson
1877.MelonycterisDobson, Proc. Zool. Soc. London, p. 119, June 1.
1877.CheiropterugesRamsay, Proc. Linn. Soc. New South Wales, 2:19, July.
1887.NesonycterisThomas, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., ser. 5, 14:147, February.
The genusMelonycterisis known from three species, two apparently endemic to the Solomon Islands and the third occurring in eastern New Guinea and the Bismarck Archipelago (Laurie and Hill, 1954:45).
Heretofore, the generic nameNesonycterishas been applied to the species in the Solomons, whereasMelonycterishas been restricted to the one species in the Bismarck Archipelago and New Guinea. Andersen (1912:792) judged thatNesonycteriswas clearly distinct fromMelonycterison the basis of two characters (loss of a claw on the second digit and loss of the inner, lower incisors). On the other hand, he noted striking similarities in general cranial features, dentition, palatal ridges, tongue, and external appearance of the two genera. Pohle (1953:131) synonymized the two but Laurie and Hill (1954:45) considered them distinct. I have suggested previously (Phillips, 1966:26, 27) that characteristics used to distinguish betweenMelonycterisandNesonycterisare of less than generic value. Variability of number of incisors in the upper jaw of specimens ofMelonycteris(and in other macroglossine genera, as well) indicates a lack of selective pressure for either increase or decrease in number of incisors. Furthermore, the loss of the small claw on the second digit might not be important because, as Bader and Hall (1960:15) have pointed out, limbs of bats vary more in phenotypic expression than do other parts of the skeletal structure.
The discovery of a new species (Melonycteris aurantius) in the Solomon Islands sheds additional light on the problem. AlthoughM. aurantiuspossesses the distinguishing characteristics of the genus "Nesonycteris," the species closely resemblesMelonycterisin other features. Similarity in structure of hair ofMelonycterisandNesonycteris, as first reported by Benedict (1957:293), also supports the argument for synonymy (see Phillips, 1966:26).
Melonycteris aurantiuslacks a small claw on the second digit and has only two lower incisors. In these ways this species is likewoodfordi, which also is restricted to the Solomons. On the other hand, the structure of the skull ofM. aurantiusis like that ofM. melanops, which is the species found in the Bismarck Archipelago.
Althoughmelanopsis not yet known from the Solomon Islands, I have included it in the following key.
Key to Known Species ofMelonycteris
Fig. 11.Distribution ofMelonycteris aurantius() andM. woodfordi(). For names of islands seeFig. 2.
Fig. 11.Distribution ofMelonycteris aurantius() andM. woodfordi(). For names of islands seeFig. 2.
Melonycteris aurantiusPhillips
1966.Melonycteris aurantiusPhillips, Jour. Mamm., 47:23-27, March 12, type from Florida Island, additional specimens from Choiseul Island.
Specimens examined(six females; three in alcohol).—Florida in October, 24440; Choiseul in March, 23615, 23617, 23558, 23694, 23681.Measurements.—Average and extreme measurements of six females are as follows: Length of head and body, 80.8 (77-106); hind foot, 17.2 (16.0-18.7); ear, 12.7 (11.5-14.0); length of forearm, 49.3 (42.9-53.8). Average and extreme measurements of skulls of five females are as follows: Greatest length of skull, 31.8 (30.8-33.3); condylobasal length, 29.7 (28.6-32.4); zygomatic breadth, 18 (17.2-20.0); breadth of braincase, 12.6 (12.4-13.2); postorbital breadth, 8.3 (8.0-8.9); length of maxillary tooth-row, 10.1 (9.4-10.4); length of mandibular tooth-row, 11.7 (10.8-12.2).
Specimens examined(six females; three in alcohol).—Florida in October, 24440; Choiseul in March, 23615, 23617, 23558, 23694, 23681.
Measurements.—Average and extreme measurements of six females are as follows: Length of head and body, 80.8 (77-106); hind foot, 17.2 (16.0-18.7); ear, 12.7 (11.5-14.0); length of forearm, 49.3 (42.9-53.8). Average and extreme measurements of skulls of five females are as follows: Greatest length of skull, 31.8 (30.8-33.3); condylobasal length, 29.7 (28.6-32.4); zygomatic breadth, 18 (17.2-20.0); breadth of braincase, 12.6 (12.4-13.2); postorbital breadth, 8.3 (8.0-8.9); length of maxillary tooth-row, 10.1 (9.4-10.4); length of mandibular tooth-row, 11.7 (10.8-12.2).
Remarks.—On Choiseul IslandMelonycteris aurantiuswas taken at the same locality as its congener,Melonycteris woodfordi.
Externally,M. aurantiusresemblesM. woodfordi. These species are the same size, but the former is brighter in color (nearly orange in adults) than the latter, which is Wood-Brown dorsally. Internally, differences betweenM. aurantiusandM. woodfordiare more obvious. In the skull ofM. aurantius, the postorbital region is expanded (measuring about 8.3), whereas inM. woodfordithe postorbital region is constricted. Furthermore, in lateral aspect the posterior portion of the skull ofM. aurantiusis down-turned and the angle of the facial axis with the basicranial axis is much more acute than inM. woodfordi.
The number of upper incisors is highly variable in the six specimens ofM. aurantiusthat I have examined. In two specimens an extra tooth has erupted just anterior to I2 and there is a total of six upper incisors. In two other specimens an extra tooth has erupted in front of I2 on one side but not the other. I could find no trace of an extra tooth in the remaining two specimens.
Practically nothing is known about the natural history ofM. aurantius, or, indeed, that of either of the other two species of this genus. One field collector (Temple,in litt.) for the Bishop Museum reported that he obtained bothM. aurantiusandM. woodfordiin the same mist net in one night. The holotype, an adult female, was lactating when obtained in October.
Melonycteris woodfordi(Thomas)
1887.Nesonycteris woodfordiThomas, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., ser. 5, 14:147, February, type from Shortland Island; 1887, Thomas, Proc. Zool. Soc. London, p. 324, March 15; 1888, Thomas, Proc. Zool. Soc. London, p. 476, December 4; 1898, Trouessart, Catalogus Mammalium ..., 1:90; 1899, Matschie, Die Megachiroptera ... naturkunde, p. 91; 1904, Trouessart, Catalogus Mammalium .., Suppl., p. 66; 1907, Miller, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus., 57:74, June 29; 1912, Andersen, Catalogue of the Chiroptera ... British Museum, 1:792, from Alu, Shortland, Fauro, and Guadalcanal; 1931, Sanborn, Publ. Field Mus. Nat. Hist., Zool. Ser., 18:23, February 12, from Russell Island (Pavuvo); 1954, Laurie and Hill, List of land mammals of New Guinea, Celebes and adjacent islands, p. 45, June 30.
1953.Melonycteris woodfordi, Pohle, Z. Säugetierk., 17:130, October 27, from Bougainville Island; 1966, Phillips, Jour. Mamm., 47:23, March 12, from Choiseul.
Specimens examined(three males and one female; in alcohol).—Choiseul, in April, 23413-14, 23434, 23275.Measurements.—Average and extreme measurements of three males and one female are as follows: Length of head and body, 86.1 (83.1-91.0); hind foot, 19.6 (17.2-22.2); ear, 11.3 (10.8-11.7); length of forearm, 54.4 (52.1-57.7).
Specimens examined(three males and one female; in alcohol).—Choiseul, in April, 23413-14, 23434, 23275.
Measurements.—Average and extreme measurements of three males and one female are as follows: Length of head and body, 86.1 (83.1-91.0); hind foot, 19.6 (17.2-22.2); ear, 11.3 (10.8-11.7); length of forearm, 54.4 (52.1-57.7).
Remarks.—Specimens ofMelonycteris woodfordifrom Choiseul constitute a new locality of occurrence for the species. ApparentlyM. woodfordioccurs throughout the Solomons (seeFig. 11).
Thomas (1887a:147) namedNesonycteris woodfordiin a preliminary report that appeared before the publication of the more detailed description of the genus and species (1887b:323-324). In the second paper he stated that the anterior projections of the premaxillary bones are separated distinctly in bothNesonycterisandMelonycteris. According to Thomas (1887b:323), it was by some "accident" that Dobson (1878:4) reported the anterior projections of the premaxillary bones inMelonycteris melanopsto be united. Writing at a later date, Andersen (1912:785) reported that inMelonycteris melanopsthe premaxillary bones have "simple contact with each other." Furthermore, in Andersen's (1912:791) illustration ofM. woodfordithe premaxillary bones are in contact anteriorly. In specimens ofwoodfordiandmelanopsexamined by me, the premaxillary bones are in contact. InM. aurantiusthe premaxillary bones are not in contact, and it differs fromwoodfordiin several other respects.
InM. woodfordi, as in other macroglossine bats, there is variability in dentition. One specimen examined has a total of three upper incisors, and another had an extra peglike tooth just anterior to I1.
Subfamily Nyctimeninae
NyctimeneBorkhausen
1797.NyctimeneBorkhausen, Deutsche fauna ..., 1:86.
1810.CephalotesÉ. Geoffroy, Ann. du Mus. d'Hist. Nat., 15:104.
1811.HarpyiaIlliger, Prodr. Syst. Mamm. et Avium, p. 118.
1837.GelasinusTemminck, Monographe de Mammalia ..., 2:100.
Tube-nosed bats of the genusNyctimeneoccur from Celebes on the west to the Santa Cruz Islands on the east. Heretofore, two species (N. albiventerandN. major), each with an endemic subspecies, were known from the Solomon Islands. Both species occur also in New Guinea and on many adjacent islands. A new species ofNyctimene, apparently endemic to the Solomons, and a new subspecies ofN. albiventerare named beyond.
Nyctimeneis related closely toCynopterusand the "Cynopterus group" of Andersen (1912:691). BecauseNyctimeneis a highly specialized bat, Miller (1907:75) placed it in a subfamily separate from that ofCynopterusand its allies.
Andersen (1912:696, 697) placed the species ofNyctimenepreviously known from the Solomons in two groups, the "papuanus" group and the "cephalotes" group, on the basis of difference in length of forearm and length of maxillary tooth-row. Because of its short forearm (about 58),N. albiventeris in thepapuanusgroup; andN. major, because of its long forearm (about 74), is in thecephalotesgroup.
Key to Species of Nyctimene in the Solomons
Nyctimene albiventer
This species occurs throughout New Guinea and on many adjacent islands, including the Bismarck Archipelago and the Admiralty and Solomon islands. The species varies geographically and five subspecies are recognized. The two subspecies in the Solomons resembleN. albiventer papuanus, the subspecies that ranges from eastern New Guinea to New Britain.N. albiventer bougainvilleoccurs in the western chain of islands of the Solomons, whereas another subspecies, named as new beyond, occurs in the eastern chain of islands (seeFig. 12).
Sexual dichromatism is striking. As Andersen (1912:690) previously reported, females generally are paler, more brownish than males, which are dark and have a better defined black dorsal stripe.
Nyctimene albiventer bougainvilleTroughton
1936.Nyctimene bougainvilleTroughton, Rec. Australian Mus., 19:349, April 7, type from Bougainville.
1954.Nyctimene albiventer bougainville, Laurie and Hill, List of land mammals of New Guinea, Celebes and adjacent islands, p. 46, June 30.
1953.Nyctimene papuanus bougainville, Pohle, Z. Säugetierk., 17:130, October 27.