PTEKOrtJS VAMPYRUS. 343 



68. Pteropus vampyrus, L. 



Pteropus edulis (pt.), Dobson, Cat. Chir. B. M. p. 49. 

 Pteropus pteronotus, Dobson, ibid. p. 48. 



(Synonyms under the subspecies.) 



Diagnosis. — Similar to Pt. giganteus, but larger, and with breast 

 aud belly dark-coloured like back. Forearm (varying according to 

 the geographical races) 182-5-220 mm. Nab. The Indo-Malayan 

 subregion, south-east to Timor. 



Palate-ridges. — 5 + 5 + 3, or 5 + 5| or 6 + 3, owing to occasional 

 development of a more or less complete, but even when fully 

 developed generally weaker, divided ridge between the normal ninth 

 and tenth ridges ; compare Pt. giganteus (p. 326) and Pt. rufus 

 (p. 202). 



Sexual differentiation. — Glandular neck-tufts less developed than 

 in Pt. giganttMs. In some males the glandular hairs are slightly 

 more rigid than the surrounding ordinary fur, and the base of the 

 hairs of a peculiar oily seal-brown tinge contrasting with the bright- 

 coloured tips ; but in a majority of adult males the difference in 

 this respect from females is scarcely appreciable. Dobson's sta!o- 

 ment that males are brighter-coloured than females ((Jat. Chir. li. M. 

 p. 49) is erroneous. 



Range. Malay reiiinsuki, (Sumatra, Java, Bali, Lombok, Savu, 

 Timor; Borneo (with JN'atunas), Philippines. The range of tliis 

 species almost ])recisely covers the Indo-Malayan stibregion, as 

 defined by Wallace : only in the south-east it crosses " Wallace's 

 line"' and extends through the Lesser Sunda Islands to Timor*. 



Ilahits. — Not differing from those of the closely allied Pt. gigan- 

 teus (p. 328). 



* There can be little doubt that a large form of the Pteropus vairqJi/rus tvpe 

 occurs in the Andamans and that the same, or a closely allied, form inhabits 

 the Nicobars- The synonymy of this form (or these forms) is as follows : — 



Pacliysoma giganteum (vec Pteropus giganteus, Brunn.), Fitsinycr, SB. 

 Akad. Wien, xlii. p. 390 (1861 : Xicobars ; nominal list of Mammalia of 

 ' Novara' Expedition) (nom. nud.). 



Pteropus edulis var. b. Pacliysoma giganteum, Zelehor, Beise ' ^ovara, 

 Zool. i. Mamm. p. 10 (1869: one specimen obtained, Car Nicobar, in 

 dense forest, together with Pt. melmwius, Feb. 18.58). 



Pteropus edulis, Dobson, Cat. Chir. B. M. p. 50 (1878: one specimen, 

 Andaiuans). 



Pteropus vampyrus, Miller, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. xxiv. pp. 786, 792 (1902 : 

 remarks on earlier records from Andamans and Xicobars) ; Kloss, Anda- 

 mans ^ Nicobars, p. 325' (1903 : no new records). 



Pteropus eelicno, Mason, Rcc. Lid. Mus. ii.pt. ii. p. 165(1908: no new facts). 



" Gula, mails, maculaque inter frontem et oculos brunneo-nigri.s, geais, nucha 

 et dorso supeiiore clare flavescente-castaneis, dorso reliquo, pectore et abdo- 

 mino brunneo-nigris, pilis nonnuUis albido vel pallide cinereo terminatis" 

 (Zelebor. I. s. c. ; Car Nicobar specimen). 



" A specimen of an apparently adult female (with much-worn teeth), from 



' Misspelt Pteioptis ramp/^rlis. 



