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Bats can be found all over Palawan Island, the Philippines' Last Frontier. As they are nocturnal animals, they roost in the dark areas of caves, overhanging rocks, crevices, dipterocarp forests, coconut palms, mangroves, and even abandoned houses during the day. At night, they actively hunt for food which include mainly of insects and fruits.
Among those bats which are known to occur in Palawan are the following:
1. Cynopterus brachyotis luzoniensis. This bat is commonly known as the short-nosed fruit bat or dog-faced fruit bat. The local folks call it kabag, kwaknit, kulapnit, or kurarapnit.
2. Eunycteris spelea glandifera. This bat is commonly known as the dawn bat. Local folks call it kwaknit or kulaknit.
3. Emballunura alecto alecto. This bat is commonly called the sheath-tailed bat. Local folks call it similarly with the other bats, i.e., kwaknit or kulaknit.
4. Pipistrellus imbricatus. This bat is commonly known as the Pipistrelle bat. Local folks call it kabag, kabiao, kalabiao, or kabilao.
5. Cheiromeles torquatus. This bat is commonly known as the Philippine naked or hairless bat, or the naked bulldog bat. Local folks call it paniki, kwaknit, kolaknit, kalabirong, or kalumbirung.
6. Acerodon leucotis. This bat is known as the Palawan Flying Fox or the Palawan fruit bat. Local folks likewise call them paniki, kulapnit, kwaknit or kabog.
7. Rousettus amplexicaudatus. This bat is commonly known as the Geoffroy's Rousette Bat. Locals call it different names such as kabag, kabog, kulong kulong, kwaknit and kulaknit.
8. Pteropus vampyrus lanensis. This bat is commonly called the Philippine Flying Fox or the Philippine Giant Fruit Bat. Local folks call it paniki or kabog, among other names.
9. Macroglossus minimus. This bat is commonly known as the Dagger-toothed Long-nosed Fruit Bat, Lesser Long-tongued Fruit Bat, or Lesser Long-tongued Fruit Bat. Local folks call it kulalapnit or kuyayapnit.
10. Scotophilus kuhlii. This bat is commonly called as the Yellow-Brown Bat. It is also known by other scientific names such as Scotophilus fulvus, Scotophilus kuhlii, Scotophilus temmincki, and Scotophilus wroughtoni. Local folks call it kabag, kabiao, and kalabiao.
11. Miniopterus schreibersii eschscholtzii. This bat is commonly called the Bent-Winged Bat. Local folks call it kabag, kabog, and kabiao.
Twenty-five other species were identified by Esselstyn et al. (2004). These are listed below:
1. Glischropus tylopus
2. Hipposideros diadema
3. Hipposideros ater
4. Kerivoula hardwickii
5. Kerivoula pellucida
6. Kerivoula whiteheadi
7. Pipistrellus javanicus
8. Rhinolophus arcuatus
9. Rhinolophus acuminatus
10. Rhinolophus cf. borneensis
11. Rhinolophus creaghi
12. Rhinolophus virgo
13. Rhinolophus macrotis
14. Miniopterus australis
15. Miniopterus tristis
16. Mops sarasinorum
17. Murina cf. tubinaris
18. Megaderma spasma
19. Myotis hors?eldii
20. Myotis macrotarsus
21. Myotis rufopictus
22. Tylonycteris pachypus
23. Tylonycteris robustula
24. Taphozous melanopogon
25. Tylonycteris pachypus
There are, therefore, 36 species identified and confirmed to exist in Palawan so far but there are suggestions there could be more extant species that could not be sampled due to their foraging, roosting or flying habits. It is also possible that misidentification of some of these species were made. Further studies are required to confirm all these findings and proposition on the existence of some species.
Nine of these species are known to occur in the world-renowned Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park.
References
Esselstyn, J. A., Widmann, P., and L. R. Heaney, 2004. The mammals of Palawan Island, Philippines. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington117(3):271–302. 2004.
Rabor, D. S. 1986. Guide to the Philippine Flora and Fauna. Vol. XI. Quezon City: Natural Resources Management Center, Ministry of Natural Resources and University of the Philippines. 213 pp.
© 11 March 2011 Patrick A. Regoniel List of Bats in Palawan
Very interesting info. Bats are fascinating creatures!