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We describe a new species of flying fox of the genus Desmalopex from Mindoro Island, Philippines. Discrete and mensural morphological characters distinguish the new species from other flying foxes in Southeast Asia. The new species shares several probable morphological synapomorphies with Desmalopex leucopterus, including features of the pelage, patagia, dentition, and cranium, suggesting that the 2 species are closely related. We present phylogenetic analyses of mitochondrial DNA sequences, which support the taxonomic status of the new species and the recently revalidated genus Desmalopex. Together, D. leucopterus and the new species form a well-supported clade that may be sister to Pteropus + Acerodon, or perhaps more distantly related to these genera. Discovery of the new species highlights the need for continued biodiversity inventories in the Philippines, where new taxa are being discovered at a remarkable rate.
Key words: biodiversity, flying fox, fruit bat, Megachiroptera, Mindoro, taxonomy
The Philippine mammal fauna, despite being considered one of the world's highest priorities for conservation, remains poorly known in many respects (Heaney 2004; Heaney et al. 1998; Heaney and Regalado 1998). For example, new species are being discovered and described at a remarkable rate (e.g., Balete et al. 2006, 2007; Esselstyn 2007; Heaney and Tabaranza 2006; Helgen et al. 2007; Rickart et al. 2005). Many taxa are known from only a few specimens and basic aspects of their biology including distribution, abundance, and habitat preferences often are unknown (Esselstyn et al. 2004; Heaney et al. 1998). One such poorly known species, a flying fox from Mindoro Island, was 1st reported in 1998 when a synoptic account of the species' probable habitat use and conservation status was published under the name "Pteropus sp. A" (Heaney et al. 1998). At the time, only 1 specimen had been deposited in any natural history collection. Fortunately, during 2006, 12 additional specimens were obtained, making possible a thorough evaluation of the affinities of this putative novel species. Specimens of "Pteropus sp. A" (Heaney et al. 1998) closely resemble those of Desmalopex leucopterus (Temminck, 1853) in most features of discrete morphology; however, specimens of "Pteropus sp. A" are substantially smaller.
Miller (1907) removed leucopterus from Pteropus and designated it as the type and only representative of a novel genus (Desmalopex), based on several characters that...