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Order : CHIROPTERA
Family : Pteropodidae
Species : Dyacopterus spadiceus
Forearm Length : up to 8.1 cm
Weight : up to 100 grams
(Francis, 2019)
Dyacopterus spadiceus (Dayak Fruit Bat or Dyak Fruit Bat) derives its generic name from the
collective name given to the indigenous ethnic groups in Borneo referred to
as 'Dayak'. The specific epithet 'spadiceus' refers to the brown/chestnut
colour of its fur.
This rarely encountered bat is mainly a canopy
dweller; they forage in the upper levels of primary or mature rainforest, unless
attracted to lower levels by the presence of ripe fruits such as figs
(Francis, 1994, Kingston et al, 2006). Their elevation range does include
lowlands, but they are mainly known from hill forest and montane
habitats.
Roosts have been located in a tree cavity and near limestone caves (Francis,
1994, Kingston et al, 2006).
This bat is one of the few mammals where lactation (milk production) can
occur in males (Francis et al, 1994). Figure 1 is an example of a lactating male.
Their upperparts are dark grey-brown to brown, and the underparts are pale
buffy, sometimes with a yellowish tinge. The ears and wings are brown. The head is broad, and the nostrils protrude 20-30 degrees from the midline.
(Kingston et al, 2006).
The core territories for this bat include parts of Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra and
Borneo, with sparse records from neighbouring territories.
Krau Wildlife Reserve (or 'Tengku Hassanal Wildlife Reserve'), which covers an area of more than 600 square
kilometres in the Malaysian state of Pahang, is an important protected area for this and
many other bat species (see Kingston at al, 2006). Numerous Dyacopterus spadiceus have been captured during studies at Krau, particularly at
Kuala Lompat in the east.
Fig 1 : Image from Kuala Lompat, Krau Wildlife Reserve, Peninsular Malaysia
in 1992. This individual was a lactating male. Photo thanks to C. M. Francis.
Fig 2 : View of lowland/hill forest from Kipungit Trail, Poring, Sabah, Borneo
in 2001 (estimated 600 metres elevation). Poring is one of the sites in
northern Borneo where Dyacopterus spadiceus is known to occur.
Fig 3 : Dry, shaded roosting sites exist for small fruit bats, such as Dyacopterus
spadiceus, beneath huge epiphytic ferns such as Asplenium nidas.
References and links :
Csorba, G., Bumrungsri, S., Francis, C., Bates, P., Gumal, M. and Kingston,
T. 2020. Dyacopterus spadiceus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened
Species 2020: e.T6931A22029918.
Francis, C. M. (1994). Vertical stratification of fruit bats (Pteropodidae)
in lowland dipterocarp rainforest in Malaysia. Journal of Tropical Ecology,
10(4), 523-530.
Francis, C. M., Anthony, E. L., Brunton, J. A., & Kunz, T. H. (1994).
Lactation in male fruit bats.
Francis, C.M. 2019. A Field Guide to the Mammals of South-east Asia. Second
Edition. New Holland. 416 pp.
Kingston, T., Lim B.L., Zubaid, A., 2006. Bats of Krau Wildlife
Reserve. Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.
Wikipedia
- Dyacopterus spadiceus
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