Pteropus Research Articles

Cunnilingus Apparently Increases Duration of Copulation in the Indian Flying Fox, Pteropus giganteus

We observed a total of 57 incidences of copulation in a colony of the Indian flying fox, Pteropus giganteus, over 13 months under natural conditions. The colony consisted of about 420 individuals, roosting in a Ficus religiosa tree. Copulations occurred between 07.00 h and 09.30 h from July to January, with more occurring in October and November. Initially males groomed their penis before approaching a nearby female. Females typically moved away and males followed. When the female stopped moving, the male started licking her vagina (cunnilingus). Typically each bout of cunnilingus lasted for about 50 s. In 57 out of 69 observations, the male mounted the female and copulated. The duration of copulation varied from 10 to 20 sec. After completion of copulation, the male continued cunnilingus for 94 to 188 sec. The duration of pre-copulatory cunnilingus and copulation was positively correlated whereas, the duration of pre- and post-copulatory cunnilingus was negatively correlated. Apart from humans, oral sex as foreplay prior to copulation is uncommon in mammals. Another pteropodid bat, Cynopterus sphinx exhibits fellatio with females licking the penis of males during copulation. It appears that bats, especially pteropodids perform oral sex, either cunnilingus or fellatio, possibly for achieving longer copulation.

Hendra Virus: A One Health Tale of Flying Foxes, Horses and Humans

Hendra virus, a member of the family Paramyxoviridae, was first recognized following a devastating outbreak in Queensland, Australia, in 1994. The naturally acquired symptomatic infection, characterized by a rapidly progressive illness involving the respiratory system and/or CNS, has so far only been recognized in horses and humans. However, there is potential for other species to be infected, with significant consequences for animal and human health. Prevention of infection involves efforts to interrupt the bat-to-horse and horse-to-human transmission interfaces. Education and infection-control efforts remain the key to reducing risk of transmission, particularly as no effective antiviral treatment is currently available. The recent release of an equine Hendra G glycoprotein subunit vaccine is an exciting advance that offers the opportunity to curb the recent increase in equine transmission events occurring in endemic coastal regions of Australia and thereby reduce the risk of infection in humans.

Reproductive behaviour and population dynamics of the Indian Flying Fox Pteropus giganteus. This article is withdrawn by the Journal of Threatened Taxa from its contents as the authors have submitted/published the same elsewhere.

This article is withdrawn by the Journal of Threatened Taxa from its contents as the authors have submitted/published the same elsewhere.

An endemic Sulawesi Flying Fox, Acerodon celebensis, nursing its pup at Bantimurung, Sulawesi, Indonesia. Photo reproduced by permission of Stefan Greif, Max Planck Institute for Ornithology

EthologyVolume 118, Issue 3 p. i-i Free Access An endemic Sulawesi Flying Fox, Acerodon celebensis, nursing its pup at Bantimurung, Sulawesi, Indonesia. Photo reproduced by permission of Stefan Greif, Max Planck Institute for Ornithology First published: 13 February 2012 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0310.2011.02031.xAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article. Volume118, Issue3March 2012Pages i-i RelatedInformation

Qualitative release assessment to estimate the likelihood of henipavirus entering the United Kingdom.

The genus Henipavirus includes Hendra virus (HeV) and Nipah virus (NiV), for which fruit bats (particularly those of the genus Pteropus) are considered to be the wildlife reservoir. The recognition of henipaviruses occurring across a wider geographic and host range suggests the possibility of the virus entering the United Kingdom (UK). To estimate the likelihood of henipaviruses entering the UK, a qualitative release assessment was undertaken. To facilitate the release assessment, the world was divided into four zones according to location of outbreaks of henipaviruses, isolation of henipaviruses, proximity to other countries where incidents of henipaviruses have occurred and the distribution of Pteropus spp. fruit bats. From this release assessment, the key findings are that the importation of fruit from Zone 1 and 2 and bat bushmeat from Zone 1 each have a Low annual probability of release of henipaviruses into the UK. Similarly, the importation of bat meat from Zone 2, horses and companion animals from Zone 1 and people travelling from Zone 1 and entering the UK was estimated to pose a Very Low probability of release. The annual probability of release for all other release routes was assessed to be Negligible. It is recommended that the release assessment be periodically re-assessed to reflect changes in knowledge and circumstances over time.

Ranging Patterns and Habitat Use of a Solitary Flying Fox (Pteropus dasymallus) on Okinawa-jima Island, Japan

Most flying fox species (genus Pteropus) exhibit strong coloniality. They are highly mobile animals and commonly forage over vast areas. Only a small number of species are solitary, and their foraging and roosting patterns are not well understood. Here, we examined ranging patterns and habitat use of Orii's flying fox, Pteropus dasymallus inopinatus, a solitary fruit bat, using radiotracking from April 2002 to January 2006 on Okinawa-jima Island, Ryukyu Archipelago, Japan. The daily home range size for this species was very small (mean 52.5 ha) compared to other Pteropus species, although home range size was highly variable among individuals and seasons. The distance between a day roost and feeding trees was 621 m on average, with a maximum of 6,875 m. Day roost site shifted frequently (every 1.6 ±0.8 days) to a nearby site in the current foraging area. The distance between consecutive day roost sites was 792 m on average, with a maximum of 6,000 m. These bats favored forest habitats for roosting sites, whereas they often used residential areas as feeding sites. Our results suggest that they regularly shifted the location of their personal activity range, a small home range with roost switching, probably to track changes in food availability and to avoid local competition for food. The solitary roosting system of this species links to its flexible foraging system, which likely provides an advantage for using limited food resources on a small island, even when food is patchily distributed in urbanized habitats.

Recent Loss of Vitamin C Biosynthesis Ability in Bats

The traditional assumption that bats cannot synthesize vitamin C (Vc) has been challenged recently. We have previously shown that two Old World bat species (Rousettus leschenaultii and Hipposideros armiger) have functional L-gulonolactone oxidase (GULO), an enzyme that catalyzes the last step of Vc biosynthesis de novo. Given the uncertainties surrounding when and how bats lost GULO function, exploration of gene evolutionary patterns is needed. We therefore sequenced GULO genes from 16 bat species in 5 families, aiming to establish their evolutionary histories. In five cases we identified pseudogenes for the first time, including two cases in the genus Pteropus (P. pumilus and P. conspicillatus) and three in family Hipposideridae (Coelops frithi, Hipposideros speoris, and H. bicolor). Evolutionary analysis shows that the Pteropus clade has the highest ω ratio and has been subjected to relaxed selection for less than 3 million years. Purifying selection acting on the pseudogenized GULO genes of roundleaf bats (family Hipposideridae) suggests they have lost the ability to synthesize Vc recently. Limited mutations in the reconstructed GULO sequence of the ancestor of all bats contrasts with the many mutations in the ancestral sequence of recently emerged Pteropus bats. We identified at least five mutational steps that were then related to clade origination times. Together, our results suggest that bats lost the ability to biosynthesize vitamin C recently by exhibiting stepwise mutation patterns during GULO evolution that can ultimately lead to pseudogenization.

Pteropid bats are confirmed as the reservoir hosts of henipaviruses: a comprehensive experimental study of virus transmission.

Bats of the genus Pteropus have been identified as the reservoir hosts for the henipaviruses Hendra virus (HeV) and Nipah virus (NiV). The aim of these studies was to assess likely mechanisms for henipaviruses transmission from bats. In a series of experiments, Pteropus bats from Malaysia and Australia were inoculated with NiV and HeV, respectively, by natural routes of infection. Despite an intensive sampling strategy, no NiV was recovered from the Malaysian bats and HeV was reisolated from only one Australian bat; no disease was seen. These experiments suggest that opportunities for henipavirus transmission may be limited; therefore, the probability of a spillover event is low. For spillover to occur, a range of conditions and events must coincide. An alternate assessment framework is required if we are to fully understand how this reservoir host maintains and transmits not only these but all viruses with which it has been associated.

Identifying Hendra Virus Diversity in Pteropid Bats

Hendra virus (HeV) causes a zoonotic disease with high mortality that is transmitted to humans from bats of the genus Pteropus (flying foxes) via an intermediary equine host. Factors promoting spillover from bats to horses are uncertain at this time, but plausibly encompass host and/or agent and/or environmental factors. There is a lack of HeV sequence information derived from the natural bat host, as previously sequences have only been obtained from horses or humans following spillover events. In order to obtain an insight into possible variants of HeV circulating in flying foxes, collection of urine was undertaken in multiple flying fox roosts in Queensland, Australia. HeV was found to be geographically widespread in flying foxes with a number of HeV variants circulating at the one time at multiple locations, while at times the same variant was found circulating at disparate locations. Sequence diversity within variants allowed differentiation on the basis of nucleotide changes, and hypervariable regions in the genome were identified that could be used to differentiate circulating variants. Further, during the study, HeV was isolated from the urine of flying foxes on four occasions from three different locations. The data indicates that spillover events do not correlate with particular HeV isolates, suggesting that host and/or environmental factors are the primary determinants of bat-horse spillover. Thus future spillover events are likely to occur, and there is an on-going need for effective risk management strategies for both human and animal health.

Increased population sampling confirms low genetic divergence among Pteropus (Chiroptera: Pteropodidae) fruit bats of Madagascar and other western Indian Ocean islands.

Fruit bats of the genus Pteropus occur throughout the Austral-Asian region west to islands off the eastern coast of Africa. Recent phylogenetic analyses of Pteropus from the western Indian Ocean found low sequence divergence and poor phylogenetic resolution among several morphologically defined species. We reexamine the phylogenetic relationships of these taxa by using multiple individuals per species. In addition, we estimate population genetic structure in two well-sampled taxa occurring on Madagascar and the Comoro Islands (P. rufus and P. seychellensis comorensis). Despite finding a similar pattern of low sequence divergence among species, increased sampling provides insight into the phylogeographic history of western Indian Ocean Pteropus, uncovering high levels of gene flow within species.

Prehistoric Birds and Bats from the Atiahara Site, Tubuai, Austral Islands, East Polynesia

Abstract: The Austral Islands in French Polynesia have a depauperate land bird fauna and until recently have been little investigated archaeologically or paleontologically to know whether this is natural. Here we report an avifaunal assemblage and bones of bats of the genus Pteropus from the Archaic period (ca. A.D. 1000–1450) cultural site Atiahara, on Tubuai. Fifteen taxa are reported from the island, and a new species of rail in the genus Gallirallus is described. The data indicate that several petrel species have been extirpated from the island and that former land bird inhabitants included at least two small pigeons and a flightless rail.

Progressive Pseudogenization: Vitamin C Synthesis and Its Loss in Bats

For the past 50 years, it was believed that all bats, like humans and guinea pigs, did not synthesize vitamin C (Vc) because they lacked activity of L-gulonolactone oxidase (GULO) in their livers. Humans and guinea pigs lack the activity due to pseudogenization of GULO in their genomes, but there is no genetic evidence to show whether such loss in bats is caused by pseudogenization. Unexpectedly, our successful molecular cloning in one frugivorous bat (Rousettus leschenaultii) and one insectivorous bat (Hipposideros armiger) ascertains that no pseudogenization occurs in these species. Furthermore, we find normal GULO protein expression using bat-specific anti-GULO polyclonal antibodies in bats, evaluated by Western blotting. Most surprisingly, GULO activity assays reveal that these two bat species have retained the ability to synthesize Vc, but at low levels compared with the mouse. It is known that bats in the genus Pteropus have lost GULO activity. We then found that functional constraints acting on the GULO of Pteropus vampyrus (which lost its function) are relaxed. These results imply that the ability to synthesize Vc in bats has not been lost completely in species as previously thought. We also suggest that the evolution of bat GULO genes can be a good model to study genetic processes associated with loss-of-function.

Ocular parameters in a captive colony of fruit bats

To establish normal reference ranges of ocular parameters including phenol read thread, palpebral fissure length, horizontal and vertical corneal diameter, upright and hanging intraocular pressure (IOP) and to report ophthalmic examination findings of the anterior segment and lens, in a population of captive fruit bats. Eyes of 30 bats of three species were included in this study: 10 (5 males, 5 females) Malayan Flying Foxes (Pteropus vampyrus), 10 (5 males, 5 females) Little Golden-mantled Flying Foxes (Pteropus pumilus), and 10 (4 males, 6 females) Island Flying Foxes (Pteropus hypomelanus). The most common ophthalmic examination findings included iris-iris persistent pupillary membranes (83%), nuclear sclerosis (56.7%), prominent arterial circle (40%), iridal hyperpigmented foci (30%), pupillary margin cysts (27%), and third eyelid defects (20%). The mean, among all species for: phenol red thread was 20.23 ± 1.28 mm/15 s both eyes (OU); palpebral fissure length was 13.34 ± 0.33 mm for OU; for horizontal corneal diameter was 10.72 ± 0.32 mm for OU; for vertical corneal diameter was 9.90 ± 0.30 mm for OU; for the hanging intraocular pressures was 19.38 ± 0.77 mmHg for OU; for upright IOP was 13.95 ± 0.60 mmHg for OU. Measurements for the individual species groups and eyes were also calculated. Results revealed the IOP of bats in a hanging position were significantly higher than the IOP of bats in an upright position. The size of the bat, between the species, affected palpebral fissure length, horizontal corneal diameter, and vertical corneal diameter. Information about the ocular structures and normal ophthalmic parameters for the Pteropus species is crucial for species protection because of dependence on vision for survival.

Recent Surveys of Bats (Mammalia: Chiroptera) from China II. Pteropodidae

We review the distribution and conservation status of Old World fruit bats (Pteropodidae) in tropical and subtropical China. Our results are based on a series of surveys conducted between 1999 and 2008 by Chinese researchers and international collaborators, spanning almost the entire range of pteropodids within China over nine provinces. Additionally we provide new information on morphometrics and notes on ecology. We also review earlier Chinese literature on fruit bats because much of this has previously been inaccessible to western scientists, and we evaluate the reliability of some of these older records. Thirteen species of fruit bats have been reputed to occur in China, including one species restricted to Taiwan. We classified Chinese fruit bats according to distribution and status as follows: Resident (six species, including one species formerly found in Taiwan and now restricted to its neighbouring islands), Marginal (three species), Questionable (one species) and Alien (three species). Consequently, only five species are encountered with any regularity in mainland China and Hainan Island: Cynopterus sphinx, Eonycteris spelaea, Macroglossus sobrinus, Rousettus leschenaultii, and Sphaerias blanfordi. Three species in the genus Pteropus are referred to in old records, but these bats are clearly not native to mainland China.

Bats Without Borders: Long-Distance Movements and Implications for Disease Risk Management

Fruit bats of the genus Pteropus (commonly known as flying-foxes) are the natural hosts of several recently emerged zoonotic viruses of animal and human health significance in Australia and Asia, including Hendra and Nipah viruses. Satellite telemetry was used on nine flying-foxes of three species (Pteropus alecto n = 5, P. vampyrus n = 2, and P. neohibernicus n = 2) to determine the scale and pattern of their long-distance movements and their potential to transfer these viruses between countries in the region. The animals were captured and released from six different locations in Australia, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, and Timor-Leste. Their movements were recorded for a median of 120 (range, 47–342) days with a median total distance travelled of 393 (range, 76–3011) km per individual. Pteropus alecto individuals were observed to move between Australia and Papua New Guinea (Western Province) on four occasions, between Papua New Guinea (Western Province) and Indonesia (Papua) on ten occasions, and to traverse Torres Strait on two occasions. Pteropus vampyrus was observed to move between Timor-Leste and Indonesia (West Timor) on one occasion. These findings expand upon the current literature on the potential for transfer of zoonotic viruses by flying-foxes between countries and have implications for disease risk management and for the conservation management of flying-fox populations in Australia, New Guinea, and the Lesser Sunda Islands.

Growth, bimaturation, and sexual size dimorphism in wild gray-headed flying foxes (Pteropus poliocephalus)

In many mammals large size is more important for male than female fitness, which may select for bimaturation with males maturing later and attaining a larger size. In bats, however, sexual dimorphism in size tends to be reversed, with females being larger. Exceptions to this can be found, notably in the genus Pteropus. I examined growth, maturation, and sexual size dimorphism in free-ranging gray-headed flying foxes (Pteropus poliocephalus) to better understand the links between life history, behavior, and ecology of this large, polygynous Australian fruit bat. Juveniles left the colony independently at dusk when their forearm length and body mass exceeded 130 mm and 301 g, or 79% and 39% of mean adult dimensions, respectively. Mean forearm length and mass of these volant juveniles increased by 0.72 mm and 4.9 g per week, independent of sex. However, significant dimorphism and bimaturation were observed: adult males averaged 1.8–4.5% larger for skeletal measurements and 25% heavier than adult females, but 40% heavier at the start of the breeding season. Males also were sexually mature at a larger skeletal size and at a higher mass (604 g) than females (514 g). Sexual size dimorphism in P. poliocephalus likely results from prolonged male growth and delayed maturation. Intrasexual selection among males for fighting ability is implicated as the cause for dimorphism, together with a release of female size from the constraints posed by carrying heavy young. Bimaturation likely results from the high costs of maintaining mating territories that confer few reproductive benefits for small males.

Growth, bimaturation, and sexual size dimorphism in wild gray-headed flying foxes (Pteropus poliocephalus)

In many mammals large size is more important for male than female fitness, which may select for bimaturation with males maturing later and attaining a larger size. In bats, however, sexual dimorphism in size tends to be reversed, with females being larger. Exceptions to this can be found, notably in the genus Pteropus. I examined growth, maturation, and sexual size dimorphism in free-ranging gray-headed flying foxes (Pteropus poliocephalus) to better understand the links between life history, behavior, and ecology of this large, polygynous Australian fruit bat. Juveniles left the colony independently at dusk when their forearm length and body mass exceeded 130 mm and 301 g, or 79% and 39% of mean adult dimensions, respectively. Mean forearm length and mass of these volant juveniles increased by 0.72 mm and 4.9 g per week, independent of sex. However, significant dimorphism and bimaturation were observed: adult males averaged 1.8–4.5% larger for skeletal measurements and 25% heavier than adult females, but 40% heavier at the start of the breeding season. Males also were sexually mature at a larger skeletal size and at a higher mass (604 g) than females (514 g). Sexual size dimorphism in P. poliocephalus likely results from prolonged male growth and delayed maturation. Intrasexual selection among males for fighting ability is implicated as the cause for dimorphism, together with a release of female size from the constraints posed by carrying heavy young. Bimaturation likely results from the high costs of maintaining mating territories that confer few reproductive benefits for small males. DOI: 10.1644/09-MAMM-A-157R.1.

Transmission of Human Infection with Nipah Virus

Nipah virus (NiV) is a paramyxovirus whose reservoir host is fruit bats of the genus Pteropus. Occasionally the virus is introduced into human populations and causes severe illness characterized by encephalitis or respiratory disease. The first outbreak of NiV was recognized in Malaysia, but 8 outbreaks have been reported from Bangladesh since 2001. The primary pathways of transmission from bats to people in Bangladesh are through contamination of raw date palm sap by bats with subsequent consumption by humans and through infection of domestic animals (cattle, pigs, and goats), presumably from consumption of food contaminated with bat saliva or urine with subsequent transmission to people. Approximately one-half of recognized Nipah case patients in Bangladesh developed their disease following person-to-person transmission of the virus. Efforts to prevent transmission should focus on decreasing bat access to date palm sap and reducing family members' and friends' exposure to infected patients' saliva.

Pacific Flying Foxes (Mammalia: Chiroptera): Two New Species of Pteropus from Samoa, Probably Extinct

Abstract Two new species of flying foxes (genus Pteropus) from the Samoan archipelago are described on the basis of modern museum specimens collected in the mid-19th century. A medium-sized species (P. allenorum, n. sp.) is introduced from the island of Upolu (Independent Samoa), based on a specimen collected in 1856 and deposited in the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. It has not been collected again, and we regard it as almost certainly extinct. This species is smaller bodied and has much smaller teeth than both extant congeners recorded in the contemporary fauna of Samoa (Pteropus samoensis and P. tonganus). The closest relative of this new species may be Pteropus fundatus of northern Vanuatu. The disjunct historical distribution of these two small-toothed flying foxes (in Vanuatu and Samoa) suggests that similar species may have been more extensively distributed in the remote Pacific in the recent past. Another species, a very large flying fox with large teeth (P. coxi, n. sp.), is describ...

Three flying fox (Pteropodidae: Pteropus rufus) roosts, three conservation challenges in southeastern Madagascar

We visited three roosts of the Madagascar flying fox Pteropus rufus in December 2005 in the Anosy Region. Colony size was 900 at Berenty Private Reserve, 412 at Amborabao and 54 at Sainte Luce, based on single counts at each site. Hunting at the roost is prohibited at Berenty but P. rufus is trapped at night in the area surrounding the reserve, where it feeds on sisal. At Amborabao, the bats roost in a sacred forest and hunting is forbidden. At Sainte Luce, the forest is highly degraded and the bats are hunted frequently, despite efforts to engage the local community in forest conservation. Questionnaires with people living near the roosts revealed the flying foxes were regarded as pests of litchis in Amborabao and Sainte Luce. Berenty is the only site where tourists are able to observe roosting P. rufus . The role of sacred forests and local taboos ( fady ) is very relevant for P. rufus conservation and might be the only practical mechanism in sites where legislation on hunting and land use is not being enforced. RESUME Trois gites de Pteropus rufus ont ete visites dans la region Anosy en decembre 2005. La population etait composee de 900 individus a Berenty, 412 a Amborabao et 54 a Sainte Luce, le comptage ayant ete fait une seule fois dans chaque gite. La chasse au dortoir est interdite a Berenty mais P. rufus est capture la nuit, lorsque les individus se nourrissent dans les plantations de sisal environnantes. A Amborabao, le dortoir se trouve dans une foret sacree ou la chasse est interdite. A Sainte Luce, la foret est extremement degradee et les chauves-souris sont chassees frequemment malgre les efforts pour impliquer la communaute locale dans la conservation de la foret. Les interviews avec les gens vivant pres des dortoirs ont montre que les P. rufus sont consideres comme nuisibles car consommateurs de fruits de litchis a Amborabao et Sainte Luce. Berenty est le seul site ou les touristes peuvent observer P. rufus au dortoir. Les forets sacrees, les croyances locales et les tabous ( fady ) sont importants pour la conservation de P. rufus et pourraient etre les seuls facteurs pour expliquer le respect des regulations cynegetiques et foncieres.