Occurrence of the Sunda colugo (Galeopterus variegatus) in the tropical forests of Singapore: A Bayesian approach

Abstract

Dermopterans are taxonomically-unique mammals, but little is known about their habitat requirements. The Sunda colugo (Galeopterus variegatus), which is one of only two living species of dermopterans confined to Southeast Asia, reportedly occurs in tropical forests, plantations, and gardens. Based on their ecology, however, we predict that tropical forests are likely to be their primary habitats. Here, we investigate environmental variables that account for the occurrence of G. variegatus in Singapore using Bayesian inference. Our results show that G. variegatus was only detected in transects with over 95% canopy cover, which was ultimately the most important predictor of colugo occurrence. Tropical forests, including disturbed forests, with relatively intact canopies are therefore vital for colugos to persist.