Eonycteris major
greater dawn bat

The distribution of Eonycteris major includes the Philippines through Borneo. In Borneo, there are scattered records from most areas including Kota Kinabalu and Ranau in Sabah. It is also found in Gunung Dulit and Kuching in Sarawak, Kutai in East Kalimantan, and upper Sungai Tengah in South Kalimantan. The only area it is not found is in Central and West Kalimantan. In the Philiippines, the distribution includes Biliran, Leyte, Lubang, Luzon, Maripipi, Mindanao, Negros, and Siargao. (Mickleburgh, Hutson, and Racey, 1992)

The roosting habitat of E. major usually includes caves and hollow trees. The subspecies E. m. robusta may be dependent upon primary forest as well as caves and has been taken from near sea level to 1100m. (Mickleburgh, Hutson, and Racey, 1992; Nowak, 1994)

The fur of E. major is identified as uniform and dark, blackish brown. Like most other fruit bats of this genus, the muzzle is long, slender, and slightly decurved. The tongue is also very long and slender, and protrudes from the mouth. Both characteristics help to pick up nectar and pollen, the main source of food. The cheek teeth are reduced in size. Overall, the bats from the subfamily Pteropodidae are characterized by long, needle-like canines, which are strongly curved outwards in the lower jaw. The upper incisors are small and they project forward slightly and are separated from each other by small gaps. The dental formula is unknown but the dental formula for most Pteropodidae is 2/2, 1/1, 3/3, 2/3. The tail is usually very short, averaging 18 mm, and the ear length averages 21 mm. The forearm (length outside of the elbow to the outside of wrist in a bent wing) averages from 71 mm to 80 mm. Another distinguishing characteristic is the lack of a claw on the second digit of the wing, which is usually present in Pteropodidae. Although there is no information about sexual dimorphism, the closest relative of E. major is E. spelaea, which is known to be sexually dimorphic; males are generally larger than females. (Nowak, 1994; Payne and Francis, 1985)

There is little available information on studies of the lifespan of this species either in the wild or in captivity.

The subspecies E. m. robusta is known to be gregarious. Several hundred were found roosting in colonies that were divided into groups, separated by sex. They are also known to share roosting caves with E. spelaea and probably Rousettus amplexicaudatus. (Mickleburgh, Hutson, and Racey, 1992; Nowak, 1994)

Home Range

There is little available information on the home range of E. major. The nearest relative, E. spelaea, migrates long distances to its feeding grounds and in general, members of the family Pteropodidae are known to make long flights between their roosting and feeding areas. (Altringham, 1996; Nowak, 1994)

There is little available information on the way this species communicates how it perceives the environment. In general, members of the family Pteropodidae have large, well-developed eyes, and therefore perceive their environment visually. Most species of this family are also known to locate their food by smell. (Nowak, 1994)

Not much is known about the specific plants E. major feeds on, but it is known that its natural foods appear to be mainly made up of pollen and nectar. (Mickleburgh, Hutson, and Racey, 1992; Nowak, 1994)

There is little available information on the predators of this species or the adaptations it has to avoid such predators.

They serve a role in the pollination of their host plants.

There are no known adverse effects of E. major on humans.

There is little available information on the benefits of this species to humans except as a pollinator.

This species is not threatened and there is no evidence of serious threats to the population. On the other hand, its subspecies E. m. robusta is identified as rare. It is believed that this rarity may have been caused by deforestation, because E. major is strongly association with primary forests. This species may be threatened but it is difficult to know because it is so rare. It is believed that even without protection, they will continue to survive with low numbers as long as there are undisturbed cave roosts available. (Mickleburgh, Hutson, and Racey, 1992)