Harpy fruit bat

Harpyionycteris whiteheadi

SUBFAMILY

Harpyionycterinae

TAXONOMY

Harpyionycteris whiteheadi Thomas, 1896, Mindoro Island, Philippines.

OTHER COMMON NAMES

German: Whitehead-Spitzzahn-Flughund.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Head and body length, 5.5–6 in (14–15.3 cm); forearm length, 3.2–3.6 in (8.2–9.2 cm); no tail; weight, 2.9–5 oz (83–142 g). Pelage is chocolate to dark brown, ventrum is lighter. Differs from all other fruit bats in its dental structure. The molars have 5–6 cusps, the lower canines have three cusps, and the incisors are directed forward.

DISTRIBUTION

Philippines, Sulawesi.

HABITAT

Undisturbed primary rainforest and lower montane forest up to 5,906 ft (1,800 m).

BEHAVIOR

Nothing known.

FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET

Fruit. Observed consuming pandan fruit and figs. Forage in canopy.

REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY

Polygamous. Two breeding seasons. Females give birth to one pup twice a year. Gestation 4–5 months. Females appear to become sexually mature within the first year of life.

CONSERVATION STATUS

Not threatened.

SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS

None known.