Abstract
Roosting colonies of Pteropus spp. at Myeik and Nyaung-zin in Myanmar’s Tanintharyi Region were surveyed between March and October 2016. Flying Foxes from 12 roost sites in Myeik town are considered to represent the taxon Pteropus hypomelanus geminorum based on the collection of a single specimen, which is the first record of the taxon from a mainland location. Further information was gathered from local people concerning the ecology and seasonal migration of Flying Fox colonies at the coastal village of Shaw-Taw-Maw and on the small island of The-byu. Data are presented on the roost tree species selected by Pteropus colonies and local threats to the bats and their habitat.
Highlights
One quarter of South-East Asian Fruit Bat (Pteropodidae) species are projected to become globally extinct by the end of the 21st century, with Flying Foxes of the genera Pteropus and Acerodon being at risk (Lane et al 2006)
Diagnosis Pteropus hypomelanus geminorum can be distinguished from the other two pteropodid taxa known to occur in peninsular Myanmar by its forearm length: the measurement is markedly shorter in P. geminorum than in either P. intermedius or P. vampyrus (Table 1)
Prior to the current survey, Pteropus hypomelanus geminorum was known in Myanmar only from the type locality of South Twin Island (Mickleburgh et al 1992) and from Sir John Hayes Island (Kunthi Kyun) (Lindsay 1926) in the Myeik Archipelago (Fig. 1)
Summary
One quarter of South-East Asian Fruit Bat (Pteropodidae) species are projected to become globally extinct by the end of the 21st century, with Flying Foxes of the genera Pteropus and Acerodon being at risk (Lane et al 2006). In many parts of South-east Asia, the hunting of Flying Foxes for bushmeat and for their perceived medicinal properties is causing a significant decline in numbers (Mickleburgh et al 2009; Mildenstein et al 2016) While this is notably the case in Vietnam (Thong 2004), Thailand (Robinson 1993), Lao PDR (Francis et al 1999), and Cambodia (Ravon et al 2014), the situation in Myanmar is not as severe, where large colonies are still found in a number of areas in Upper Myanmar, especially at Bagan and Mandalay (Bates et al 2000) and at Sittwe (Struebig et al 2005). [= Kunthi Kyun] during a survey in 1921/22 but does not refer to actual specimens In his original description of Pteropus geminorum, Miller (1903) states that he examined 15 specimens (seven skins) from South Twin Island, including the type, an adult female
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