Eonycteris spelaea
(Dobson, 1871). Proc. Asiat. Soc. Bengal, p. 105, 106.

©2002

ORDER—CHIROPTERA
FAMILY—Pteropodidae

COMMON NAME—Common nectar bat, Common dawn bat.

DISTRIBUTION—India to Timor; throughout the Philippines except the Batanes/Babuyan region. Recorded from Biliran (UMMZ), Bohol (USNM), Catanduanes (USNM), Cebu (UPLB), Leyte (USNM), Luzon (Abra [MCZ], Cavite [MCZ], Ilocos Norte [USNM], Laguna [UPLB], Pampanga [USNM], Rizal [MCZ], and Sorsogon [FMNH] provinces), Marinduque (MCZ), Maripipi (UMMZ), Masbate (SU), Mindanao (Agusan del Norte [SU], Davao del Sur [FMNH], Davao Oriental [DMNH], Lanao del Norte [DMNH], Misamis Oriental [DMNH], Misamis Oriental [DMNH], South Cotabato [DMNH], Surigao del Norte [SU], and Zamboanga del Sur [DMNH] provinces), Mindoro (MCZ), Negros (FMNH), Palawan (FMNH), Polillo (FMNH), Sanga-sanga (DMNH), Sabtang (UPLB), Siargao (DMNH), Sibuyan (FMNH), Siquijor (SU), and Tablas (SU). Also reported from Carabro Island (Alcala & Alviola, 1970).

HABITAT—Common in agricultural areas from sea level to 1100 m, often at high densities (Heaney et al., 1989, in press; Heideman and Heaney, 1989; Lepiten, 1995; Rickart et al., 1993). Known to roost only in caves, where they form colonies of up to thousands of individuals, and where they are vulnerable to hunting pressure (Rickart et al., 1993; Utzurrum, 1992).

STATUS—Stable and common in agricultural areas, but heavily hunted and vulnerable.

NOTE ADDED IN 2005--Esselstyn et al. (2004) found one population on Palawan Island that they estimated as exceeding 2,000 and another that probably exceeded 50,000.


©2002 (photograph by P. Heideman)

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©2002 Heaney et al., Mammals of the Philippines
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