(Linnaeus, 1758)
Large Flying fox
External characters (Table 4)
This species (PG7) is similar to P. giganteus (PG2) but generally larger, with a forearm length of 195-209 mm in P. v. malaccensis as compared to 152-183 mm in P. giganteus . The ventral surface of P. vampyrus (PG8) is generally darker than that of P. giganteus (PG1, PG2). It is a dark russet brown on the throat and blackish brown on the lower chest and belly, intermixed with some paler hair tips. However, this dark colour is also observed in a minority of specimens of P. giganteus . Corbet and Hill, 1992 suggest that the two taxa may prove to be conspecific.
Cranial characters
The skull is closely similar to that of P. giganteus (PG6) although averaging larger with a condylobasal length of 71.1 mm (69.0-73.2 mm). The braincase appears to be more protuberant posteriorly and the basi-cranial axis is more deflected downwards.
Dentition
The dentition of P. v. malaccensis is more robust than that of P. giganteus with the upper toothrow length (C-M2) averaging 29.2 mm (26.3-33.8 mm). M1 is particularly well developed; its greatest length averages 6.1 mm (5.7-6.4 mm); in P. giganteus the comparable figure is 5.5 mm (5.0-6.1 mm).
Variation
It is probable that specimens from the Nicobar and Andaman Islands would be referable to P. v. malaccensis which occurs in southern Myanmar and Sumatra. This subspecies averages smaller than P. v. vampyrus and has a bright mantle (Andersen, 1912). It exhibits little individual variation in pelage colour.
Taxonomic remarks
Corbet and Hill, 1992 suggest that P. giganteus may prove to be conspecific with P. vampyrus . If so, vampyrus is the prior name.