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.
Communication Channels: visual
Perception Channels: visual ; tactile ; chemical
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.
CITES: no special status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: data deficient
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.
They serve a role in the pollination of their host plants.
Ecosystem Impact: pollinates
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.
Plant Foods: fruit; nectar; pollen
Primary Diet: herbivore (Nectarivore )
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.
Biogeographic Regions: oriental (Native )
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.
Range elevation: 0 to 1100 m.
Habitat Regions: tropical
Terrestrial Biomes: forest
Other Habitat Features: caves
There is little available information on studies of the lifespan of this species either in the wild or in captivity.
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.
Average mass: 91 g.
Other Physical Features: endothermic ; bilateral symmetry
There is little available information on the predators of this species or the adaptations it has to avoid such predators.
There is little available information on mating systems in Eonycteris major.
There is no information about reproductive behavior in E. major but there is some information on its closest relative, E. spelaea. The females have been found to be polyestrous and pregnancies that begin during later stages of lactation are successive. The gestation period is a little bit longer than six months but can be as long as 200 days. Generally females have one young per litter, and rarely two. The young are attached to the nipple for about 4 to 6 weeks and weaning occurs after 3 months. They reach sexual maturity after one year in females and after two years in males.
Breeding interval: There is little information, but in their relative E. spelaea, the breeding happens year round and peaks throughout the year.
Key Reproductive Features: gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; viviparous
There is little available information on the parental investment of E. major, but observations of their relative E. spelaea show that the young take hold of a nipple shortly after parturition. For 4 to 6 weeks, the young stay firmly attached as the female flies around. The young can make short flights on their own after 4 to 6 weeks and weaning occurs three months later.
Parental Investment: pre-weaning/fledging (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Female)
The greater nectar bat or greater dawn bat (Eonycteris major) is a species of megabat within the genus Eonycteris. It is found in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines. Its range is limited and includes Luzon to Maripipi in the Philippines and scattered parts of Borneo including Tuaran and Ranau in Sabah; Bau, Kuching and Bintulu in Sarawak.[2][3]
All E. major were mist-netted in sites associated with flowering banana plants (Musa species) found on the edge between primary forest and open or secondary habitats. An individual that was netted and banded at 22:05 on 5 July 1996 was recaptured in another net the following night at 18:50 about 30 m away. This may suggest of stable food resources at the edge or lack of feeding sites elsewhere. The area surrounding Tawau Park is covered oil palm plantations or disturbed habitats. This species usually roosts in caves and hollow trees, but there is little other information on the ecology of this species .[3]
At Tawau Hills in Sabah, a pregnant female had a forearm length of 81 millimetres (3.2 in) and weighed 103 grams (3.6 oz), another female weighed 94 grams (3.3 oz) while a lactating female with a forearm length of 78 millimetres (3.1 in) weighed 87.5 grams (3.09 oz). The measurements were consistent with those reported previously elsewhere.[3]
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) The greater nectar bat or greater dawn bat (Eonycteris major) is a species of megabat within the genus Eonycteris. It is found in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines. Its range is limited and includes Luzon to Maripipi in the Philippines and scattered parts of Borneo including Tuaran and Ranau in Sabah; Bau, Kuching and Bintulu in Sarawak.
