The long-tongued nectar bat (Macroglossus minimus), also known as the northern blossom bat, honey nectar bat,[2]least blossom-bat,[3]dagger-toothed long-nosed fruit bat,[1] and lesser long-tongued fruit bat,[1] is a species of megabat. M. minimus is one of the smallest species in the family Pteropodidae, with an average length of 60–85 mm. It has a reddish-brown colouring with relatively long hair compared to the other species. The hair on the abdomen is a lighter colour, and a dark brown stripe runs bilaterally down the top of the head and back.
Of total captures, males constituted 53% and females 47%. About 77% were adults.
Sexually active males have enlarged testes, and polyestrous females have a breeding period of 140 to 160 days. Estimates for the gestation period for M. minimus is approximately 120 days (± 10 days), lactation occurs for 60 to 70 days.[7]InNegros Island, Philippines, females studies produced two or three young per year.[8] The species reproduces aseasonally (throughout the year) and synchronously in response to food abundance.[7][8][9][10]
For young bats, the forearm grows at 0.24 millimetres (0.0094 in) per day and weight is gained at 0.07 grams (0.0025 oz) per day. A free-flying immature bat has a forearm length of 35 millimetres (1.4 in) and weighs around 9 grams (0.32 oz).[9] The length of the head and body in adults is 60–85 millimetres (2.4–3.3 in), with the head being 26–28 millimetres (1.0–1.1 in) in length. The length of the forearm is 40–43 millimetres (1.6–1.7 in), and the weight is 12–18 grams (0.42–0.63 oz).[11] It is shorter and lighter than Macroglossus sobrinus.[6]
^Bartels, W; Law, BS; Geiser, F (April 1998). "Daily torpor and energetics in a tropical mammal, the northern blossom-bat Macroglossus minimus (Megachiroptera)". Journal of Comparative Physiology B. 168 (3): 233–239. doi:10.1007/s003600050141. PMID9591364. S2CID16870476.
^ abcPayne, Junaidi; Francis, Charles M. (1985). A field guide to the mammals of Borneo. Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia: Sabah Society. p. 179. ISBN9789679994711.
^Start, A.N.; Marshall, A.G. (1976). "Nectarivorous bats as pollinators of trees in West Malaysia". Linnean Society Symposium Series (2): 141–150.
^ abStart, AN (1974). The feeding biology in relation to food source of nectivorous bats (Chiroptera: Macroglossinae) in Malaysia (PhD). University of Aberdeen.
^ abHeideman, Paul D.; Heaney, Lawrence R.; Thomas, Rebecca L.; Erickson, Keith R. (November 1987). "Patterns of Faunal Diversity and Species Abundance of Non-Volant Small Mammals on Negros Island, Philippines". Journal of Mammalogy. 68 (4). American Society of Mammalogists: 884–888. doi:10.2307/1381575. JSTOR1381575.
^ abGunnell, A. C.; Yani, M.; Kitchener, D. J. (1996). "Field observations of Macroglossus minimus(Chiroptera: Pteropodidae) on Lombook Island, Indonesia". In Kitchener, Darrell John; Suyanto, Agustinus (eds.). Proceedings of the First International Conference on Eastern Indonesian-Australian Vertebrate Fauna, Manado, Indonesia, November 22-26, 1994. Perth, Australia: Western Australian Museum for Lembaga Ilmu Pengetahuan Indonesia. pp. 127–145. ISBN9780730970408. OCLC681910338.
^Flannery, Timothy (1990). Mammals of New Guinea. Robert Brown and Associates. ISBN1862730296.
^Medway, L. (1978). Mammals of Borneo: field keys and an annotated checklist. Vol. 7. Kuala Lumpur: Monographs of the Malayan Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society.
Hall, Les S.; Grigg, Gordon G.; Moritz, Craig; Ketol, Besar; Sait, Isa; Marni, Wahab; Abdullah, M.T. (2004). "Biogeography of fruit bats in Southeast Asia". Sarawak Museum Journal. LX (81): 191–284.
Hall, Les S.; Richards, G.C.; Abdullah, M.T. (2002). "The bats of Niah National Park, Sarawak". Sarawak Museum Journal. 78: 255–282.
Mohd, Azlan J.; Maryanto, Ibnu; Kartono, Agus P.; Abdullah, M.T. (2003). "Diversity, Relative Abundance and Conservation of Chiropterans in Kayan Mentarang National Park, East Kalimantan, Indonesia". Sarawak Museum Journal. 79: 251–265.
