First Record of Folivory in the Tube-nosed Fruit Bat, Nyctimene rabori Heaney &
Peterson, 1984 in Mt. Lantoy Key Biodiversity Area, Cebu, Philippines
Steve Michael T. Alcazar1,4*, Archiebald Baltazar B. Malaki1,4,
Edgardo P. Lillo1,5, Ritche U. Nuevo2,6, and Raamah C. Rosales3
1Forestry Department, Cebu Technological University
Argao Campus, Argao, Cebu 6021 Philippines
2Agriculture Department, Cebu Technological University
Argao Campus, Argao, Cebu 6021 Philippines
3College of Arts and Sciences, Cebu Technological University
Main Campus, Cebu City 6000 Philippines
4School of Environmental Science and Management,
University of the Philippines Los Baños, College 4031 Laguna, Philippines
5Forest Biological Science-College of Forestry and Natural Resources,
University of the Philippines Los Baños, College 4031 Laguna, Philippines
6Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology,
University of the Philippines, Diliman 1101 Quezon City, Philippines
*Corresponding author: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
ABSTRACT
Four individuals of Nyctimene rabori were captured at different bat net stations in Barangay Canbantug, Argao town within the peripheries of Mt. Lantoy Key Biodiversity Area in Cebu Island, Philippines at 500–700 meters above sea level. We present the first observation of folivory behavior in Nyctimene rabori on mango plant (Mangifera indica). The bat feed on young leaves and shoots of the mango plant where it was released. It chewed on the leaves, swallowing some parts and ejecting some. Interestingly, the bat also ate the petiole and the entire young green stem (about 6 in long and 0.5–0.8 cm diameter). It consumed the entire stem with only a small amount expelled. The activity lasted for almost 8 min of intermittent feeding. Fruit bat folivory is rarely documented in the Philippines. Knowledge on the diet of fruit bats is important in the conservation and management of the species.
INTRODUCTION
Folivory is defined as the consumption of foliage – including leaves, stems, and leaf content (Kunz and Ingalls 1994). The consumption of leaves by bats typically involves intensive mastication to ensure the extraction of nutrients, followed by the disposal of fibrous pellets of indigestible material (Lowry 1989). Leaves are an important component of bat diet as it provides carbohydrates, proteins, and minerals (Nelson et al. 2005). . . . read more
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