Notopteris

The long tongue flying foxes ( Macroglossini ) are a generic group of the family of fruit bats ( Pteropodidae ). The nearly 15 species are among the smallest fruit bat species and have specialized on nectar and pollen as food.

Dissemination

Long tongue flying foxes are widespread in South and Southeast Asia ( from India to Indonesia ), New Guinea, northern and eastern Australia, and on some islands in the western Pacific (Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji and New Caledonia).

Description

The tongue of these animals is slim and far herausstreckbar, it is like a brush shaped to accommodate the nectar and pollen can. The snout is elongated, like all bats eyes are well developed. The molars are very small and barely protrude from the gum, the canines are nadelförnig and strongly curved. In contrast to the other bats missing in most long tongue bats the claw of the second finger. The fur of these animals is usually brown, sometimes blackish. The body length is 5-13 cm, the upper arm length from 3.5 to 9 inches; the weight of these animals is 11-82 grams.

Way of life

Long tongue bats inhabit mangrove swamps and rain forests and other forests to almost 3000 meters above sea level, sometimes they can be found on orchards. You are like most bats nocturnal. Apart from the caves long tongue flying foxes ( Eonycteris ) who live together in groups and mostly sleep in caves, these animals are solitary, resting on trees. As already mentioned, the food of these animals consists almost exclusively of pollen and nectar, while they play an important role in the pollination of many plant species. The pairing can take place throughout the year, the gestation period is around four to six months, after about two to three months, the young animal is weaned, at the same time or shortly thereafter, females may be pregnant again, but probably in most species.

The genera

We distinguish between eleven to 15 species (depending on how you count ) five genera with. The African long tongue Flying Fox ( Megaloglossus woermanni ) is not related despite its similarities in physique and in the diet, according to recent studies with this group, but with the rosette bats and has only developed convergent.

• The Cave Long tongue flying foxes ( Eonycteris ) include depending on the author of two to four species that are spread from India to the Philippines and the Moluccas. The males have the neck a frill, while females at this point are almost hairless. They are predominantly caveman and live together in groups.
• The genus is widespread Macroglossus of India to the Solomon Islands. To her two types are counted, the dwarf - long tongue Flying Fox ( M. minimus ), the smallest member of this group and one of the smallest bats in general and M. sobrinus.
• The three species of the genus Syconycteris have a red-brown or gray -brown fur. S. australis is in the Moluccas, distributed in New Guinea and eastern Australia, p carolinae only lives on Halmahera and adjacent islands and S. hobbit whose epithet is derived from the created by JRR Tolkien people, is found in western New Guinea.
• The genus comprises Melonycteris depending on how you count three to four species that live only in the Bismarck Archipelago and the Solomon Islands.
• The long-tailed fruit bat ( Notopteris macdonaldi ) has as the sole representative of the flying foxes at all a long tail. It is common to Vanuatu, Fiji and New Caledonia.

System

Traditionally, the long tongue bats as one of two subfamilies ( Macro Glos Sinae ) flying foxes were considered that all other flying fox species ( Pteropodinae ) was compared. According to recent phylogenetic studies, this classification is not sustainable, the authentics bats ( Pteropodini ) are related, for example, closer with them than with the tube nose fruit bats. See also classification of bats.

Note

The classification of bats is largely based on the phylogenetic analysis of Kate E. Jones et al: A Phylogenetic Supertree of Bats. The authors use for the taxa no rank in the classical sense. The name of this group as a tribe with the suffix -ini is therefore arbitrary.

Swell

• Flying foxes