Andersen's naked-backed fruit bat

Andersen's naked-backed fruit bat
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1) [1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Chiroptera
Family:	Pteropodidae
Genus:	Dobsonia
Species:	D. anderseni
Binomial name
Dobsonia anderseni Thomas, 1914
Andersen's naked-backed fruit bat range

Andersen's naked-backed fruit bat or Andersen's bare-backed fruit bat (Dobsonia anderseni) is a large cave-dwelling species of megabat in the family Pteropodidae. It is endemic to the Bismarck Archipelago including the Admiralty Islands in Papua New Guinea.

Taxonomy and etymology

It was described as a new species in 1914 by British zoologist Oldfield Thomas. The holotype used to describe the species was collected by Albert Stewart Meek and his brother-in-law, Albert Frederic Eichhorn, in October 1913. The eponym for the species name "anderseni" is Danish mammalogist Knud Andersen. Of Andersen, Thomas wrote: "I have named the species in honour of Dr. K. Andersen, in recognition of the striking monograph of Dobsonia contained in his Catalogue, a monograph which has entirely revolutionized our knowledge of the group." ^[2]

Description

Its forearm length is 123–125 mm (4.8–4.9 in). Its fur is very dark brown, with its head nearly black. ^[2]

Range and habitat

Its range includes several islands of Papua New Guinea. It has been documented at elevations up to 1,500 m (4,900 ft) above sea level. ^[1]

Conservation

As of 2020, it is listed as a least-concern species by the IUCN. Threats to this species include overharvesting for bushmeat or disturbance of the caves where it roosts during the day. ^[1]

References

1. Leary, T.; Helgen, K.; Bonaccorso, F.J. (2020). "Dobsonia anderseni". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2020 e.T136374A22012133. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T136374A22012133.en . Retrieved 19 November 2021.
2. Thomas, O. (1914). "XLIX.—On mammals from Manus Island Admiralty group, and Ruk Island, Bismarck Archipelago". Journal of Natural History. 8. 13 (76): 435–436. doi:10.1080/00222931408693505.