The swift fruit bat was initially described in 1870 by British zoologist John Edward Gray.[3] He placed it in the genus Cynopterus, with a name of Cynopterus marginatus var. nigrescens. The type specimen had been collected on the Indonesian island of Morotai by Alfred Russel Wallace.[4]
In 1899, German zoologist Paul Matschie created the subgenus Thoopterus within Cynopterus, into which he placed Cynopterus nigrescens.[5][3] By 1912, Danish mammalogist Knud Andersen classified Thoopterus as a full genus, with T. nigrescens as the type species.[6]
The combined length of the head and body is 94–109 mm (3.7–4.3 in), with a forearm length of 70–82 mm (2.8–3.2 in). Individuals weigh about 67–99 g (2.4–3.5 oz). The fur is grayish-brown.[7]
The swift fruit bat is endemic to Indonesia, where it is found on the following islands: Sulawesi, Buton, Mangole, Wawonii, the Talaud and Sangihe archipelagos, and likely Morotai. It is found at elevations between 0–2,400 m (0–7,874 ft) above sea level. It seems to prefer intact forests, though will also utilize disturbed forests.[1]
