Acerodon jubatus
(Eschscholtz, 1831). Zool. Atlas, part 4:1.


©2002

ORDER—CHIROPTERA
FAMILY—Pteropodidae

COMMON NAME—Golden-crowned flying fox.

DISTRIBUTION—Endemic to the Philippines; widespread with the exception of the Palawan faunal region and the Batanes and Babuyan groups. Recorded from Basilan (MCZ), Bongao (AMNH), Cabo (USNM), Bohol (FMNH), Dinagat (DMNH), Jolo (FMNH), Leyte (FMNH), Luzon (Abra [MCZ], Isabela [AMNH], Quezon [USNM], Rizal [AMNH], and Tarlac [USNM] provinces), Marinduque (UPD), Maripipi (USNM), Mindanao (Davao del Norte [FMNH], Davao del Sur [FMNH], Lanao del Norte [DMNH], Lanao del Sur [DMNH], Maguindanao [FMNH], Misamis Oriental [DMNH], South Cotabato [USNM], Sultan Kudarat [AMNH], Surigao del Sur [DMNH], Zamboanga del Norte [FMNH], Zamboanga del Sur [AMNH] provinces), Mindoro (USNM), Negros (FMNH), Panay (FMNH), Sibutu (DMNH), Siquijor (FMNH).

HABITAT—Primary amd secondory lowland forest up to 1100 m. Some roosts reported from mangrove and on small islands (Hoogstraal, 1951; Rabor, 1986). Common reports of 100,000 individuals in a colony from the late 1800s and early 1900s contrasts with recent observations of maximum colony size of 5,000 and usually far fewer (Heaney and Heideman, 1987; Heaney and Utzurrum, 1991; Lawrence, 1939; Mickleburgh et al., 1992; ; Mudar and Allen, 1986; Rickart et al., 1993;Taylor, 1934; Utzurrum, 1992; ), but recent sitings on Boracay (Marr & Ingle, Unpubl. data) may represent this species. Possibly extinct on Siquijor (Lepiten, 1995) .


STATUS—Severely declining as a result of habitat destruction and heavy hunting.

COMMENTS—Includes the Panay golden-crowned flying fox (Acerodon lucifer Elliot, 1896). Examination of all known extant specimens of A. lucifer has shown that there are no morphological differences that distinguish the two supposed species (Ingle and Heaney, 1992; Heaney, unpubl. data). Specimens from Panay show greatest resemblance to those from Negros. The Panay population, which formerly occurred in large colonies was presumed extinct (Elliot, 1896; Heaney and Heideman, 1987; Mickleburgh et al., 1992; Utzurrum, 1992). IUCN: Endangered. CITES: Appendix II.


©2002

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©2002 Heaney et al., Mammals of the Philippines
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