Lesser tube-nosed bat


The lesser tube-nosed bat is a species of megabat in the family Pteropodidae. It is native to two of the Maluku Islands in northern Indonesia.

Taxonomy

The lesser tube-nosed bat was described as a new species in 1910 by Danish mammalogist Knud Andersen. The holotype had been collected by Alfred Russel Wallace in Tondano, Indonesia. Two subspecies are recognized, with Andersen also the taxonomic authority: N. m. minutus and N. m. varius.

Description

The lesser tube-nosed bat has a forearm length of approximately.

Range and habitat

The bat is endemic to the mountainous forests of Buru and Seram Islands, in Maluku Province. It is not found on nearby Ambon Island. It has been documented at a range of elevations from above sea level. Its habitat is mid-montane forests.

Conservation

As of 2008, it is evaluated as a vulnerable species by the IUCN. It meets the criteria for this designation because it has a small area of occupancy, at less than. Additionally, it has experienced severe habitat fragmentation, and its habitat is continuously declining in both quality and extent. Its population is likely decreasing.