Abstract

Pteralopex pulchra n.sp. is described. It is known from a single specimen collected at 1,230 m on the south slopes of Mount Makarakomburu, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands. It is probably restricted to altitudes in excess of 1,200 m, where it possibly replaces Pteralopex atrata which is restricted to lower elevations. This species pair possibly forms the only example among Solomon Islands mammals of altitudinal replacement. The morphology of P. pulchra n.sp. is intermediate in some respects between that of the two previously known Solomon Islands species (P. anceps and P. atrata), and the Fijian P. acrodonta. Pteralopex pulchra n.sp. is unique however in the possession of extensively black and white mottled wings, bright red eyes and a yellowish venter which contrasts strongly with the blackish back.

 
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Bibliographic Data

Short Form
Flannery, 1991, Rec. Aust. Mus. 43(2): 123–129
Author
Tim F. Flannery
Year
1991
Title
A new species of Pteralopex (Chiroptera: Pteropodidae) from Montane Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands
Serial Title
Records of the Australian Museum
Volume
43
Issue
2
Start Page
123
End Page
129
DOI
10.3853/j.0067-1975.43.1991.44
Language
en
Date Published
22 November 1991
Cover Date
22 November 1991
ISSN (print)
0067-1975
CODEN
RAUMAJ
Publisher
The Australian Museum
Place Published
Sydney, Australia
Subjects
MAMMALIA: CHIROPTERA; TAXONOMY
Digitized
24 November 2008
Available Online
18 December 2008
Reference Number
44
EndNote
44.enw
Title Page
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44_complete.pdf
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