F. Cuvier, 1824
Long-tongued Fruit bats
These are small fruit bats specialised for nectar-feeding. The tongue is highly protrusible and has well developed filiform papillae at the tip (MS1). Externally the muzzle is elongated and narrow. The tail is rudimentary or absent. The skull is characterised by its elongated slender rostrum (Fig. 35). The braincase is strongly deflected downwards so that the alveolar line projected backwards passes through the braincase well above the lambdoid crest. The dentition is strikingly reduced with the premolars and molars narrow and linear (Fig. 34).
Dental formula: i - 2 3 c 1 pm - 2 3 4 m 1 2 - = 34.
1 2 - 1 - 2 3 4 1 2 3
The genus includes 2 species with a geographical range that extends from India to Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, New Guinea and northern Australia (Koopman, 1993). One species is present in the Indian subcontinent:
Macroglossus sobrinus