The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™

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   IUCN 2008: T19754A9010480

Rousettus amplexicaudatus, Geoffroy's Rousette

Assessment by: Csorba, G., Rosell-Ambal, G. & Ingle, N.

View on www.iucnredlist.org

Citation: Csorba, G., Rosell-Ambal, G. & Ingle, N. 2008. Rousettus amplexicaudatus. The IUCN Red
List of Threatened Species 2008: e.T19754A9010480.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T19754A9010480.en

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Taxonomy
Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family

Animalia Chordata Mammalia Chiroptera Pteropodidae

Taxon Name:  Rousettus amplexicaudatus (É. Geoffroy, 1810)

Common Name(s):
• English: Geoffroy's Rousette, Common Rousette
Taxonomic Notes:
This species, as currently defined, probably includes several undescribed, "cryptic" species in the
Moluccas (K. Helgen in litt.). On the mainland the separation of the species from R. leschenaultii is
sometimes problematic, the two species occur sympatrically.

Assessment Information
Red List Category & Criteria: Least Concern ver 3.1

Year Published: 2008

Date Assessed: June 30, 2008

Justification:
Listed as Least Concern in view of its wide distribution, presumed large population, occurrence in a
number of protected areas, and because it is not believed to be declining fast enough to qualify for
listing in a threatened category, although locally it may have undergone declines due to hunting.

Previously Published Red List Assessments

1996 – Lower Risk/least concern (LR/lc)

Geographic Range
Range Description:
This species is known from Yunnan in China (Smith et al. 2008) extending to Cambodia, Thailand,
Myanmar, Viet Nam (Borissenko and Kruskop 2003), Lao PDR (Duckworth et al. 1999), Peninsular
Malaysia through Indonesia (including Java and Bali), and the Philippines. It is present on many of the
Molucca Islands, including the islands of Halmahera, Morotai, Buru and Seram. It is widespread
throughout much of New Guinea (Indonesia and Papua New Guinea), the Bismarck Archipelago and
adjacent islands. It has been recorded from the island of Bougainville and Buka (S. Hamilton pers.
comm.) and many of the Solomon Islands as far south as the island of San Cristobal.
It is found throughout the Philippines, with records from Balabac, Babuyan Group (Garcia pers. comm.),
Barit, Biliran, Bohol, Boracay, Busuanga, Caluya, Camotes (L. Paguntalan pers. comm.), Carabao,
Catanduanes, Cebu, Dalupiri, Dinagat, Fuga, Ilin (J. C. Gonzales pers. comm.), Jolo, Leyte, Lubang, Luzon
(Abra, Cagayan, Ilocos Norte, Isabela, Laguna, Quezon, Rizal, Sorsogon, Zambales provinces), Maripipi,
Marinduque, Mindanao (Bukidnon, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur,

© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Rousettus amplexicaudatus – published in 2008. 1
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Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental (Ramayla pers. comm.), South Cotabato, Surigao del Sur,
Zamboanga del Sur), Mindoro, Negros, Palawan , Panay, Polillo, Samal, Samar (J. C. Gonzales pers.
comm.), Semirara, Siargao, Sibay, Sibuyan, Siquijor, Tablas, Ticao (L. Paguntalan pers. comm.), Tincansan
(Alcala and Alviola 1970; Heaney et al. 1998). It has been recorded from sea level up to 2,200 m asl.

Country Occurrence:
Native: Brunei Darussalam; Cambodia; China; Indonesia (Bali, Jawa, Lesser Sunda Is., Maluku, Sulawesi,
Sumatera); Lao People's Democratic Republic; Malaysia; Myanmar; Papua New Guinea (Bismarck
Archipelago); Philippines; Singapore; Solomon Islands; Thailand; Timor-Leste; Viet Nam

© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Rousettus amplexicaudatus – published in 2008. 2
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Distribution Map

© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Rousettus amplexicaudatus – published in 2008. 3
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Population
This is a locally abundant species in Southeast Asia and the Philippines (Utzurrum 1992). In Southeast
Asia it has probably experienced declines due to hunting as a large cave roosting species (C. Francis pers.
comm.).
Current Population Trend:  Unknown

Habitat and Ecology (see Appendix for additional information)

This is a colonial species which forms cave roosts of several thousand animals. Roosts are known from
caves, rock crevices, and old tombs. It can be found in a wide variety of habitat types including
secondary forest, agricultural areas, and other disturbed habitats like rural gardens, fruit orchards and at
the forest edge (Heaney et al. 1991, 1998; Heideman and Heaney 1989; Lepiten 1995; Rickart et al.
1993). It is present, but less common, in primary tropical moist forest.
They may travel long distances each night, in search of appropriate fruit. Rousettus are known to use a
primitive form of echolocation while foraging. Gestation is thought to be about 15 weeks, and lactation
about three months. The species may have two litters of a single young annually in New Guinea
(Bonaccorso 1998).

Systems:  Terrestrial

Threats
Overall there are no major threats to this species. It is regarded as a pest in some parts of its range. In
the Philippines and Indochina it is subject to intense hunting at some cave roosts (Utzurrum 1992).

Conservation Actions (see Appendix for additional information)

It is present in several protected areas. Identification and protection of important roosting sites would
benefit the conservation of this species across its range. In the Philippines, caves are protected under
the Cave Management Act, although this is not fully enforced. Elsewhere in southeast Asia the species
requires protection from hunting and education is needed on the actual impact of the species on
orchards (C. Francis pers. comm. 2006).

Credits
Assessor(s): Csorba, G., Rosell-Ambal, G. & Ingle, N.

Reviewer(s): Hutson, A.M., Racey, P.A. (Chiroptera Red List Authority), Chanson, J. & Chiozza, F.
(Global Mammal Assessment Team)

© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Rousettus amplexicaudatus – published in 2008. 4
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Bibliography
Alcala, A. C. and Alviola, P. 1970. Notes on birds and mammals of Boracay, Caluya, Carabao, Semirara,
and Sibay islands, Philippines. Silliman Journal 17: 444-454.

Bergmans, W. and Rozendaal, F. G. 1988. Notes on a collection of fruit bats from Sulawesi and some off-
lying islands (Mammalia, Megachiroptera). Zoologische Verhandelingen 248: 1-14.

Bonaccorso, F. 1998. Bats of Papua New Guinea. Conservation International, Washington, DC, USA.

Borissenko, A. V. and Kruskop, S. V. 2003. Bats of Vietnam and adjacent territories. an identification
manual. Geos, Moscow, Russia.

Duckworth, J.W., Salter, R.E. and Khounbline, K. 1999. Wildlife in Lao PDR: 1999 Status Report. IUCN,
Vientiane, Laos.

Flannery, T. F. 1995. Mammals of New Guinea. Cornell University Press, Ithaca, NY, USA.

Flannery, T. F. 1995. Mammals of the South-West Pacific and Moluccan Islands. Comstock/Cornell,
Ithaca, Ny, USA.

Goodwin, R. E. 1979. The bats of Timor: systematics and ecology. Bulletin of the American Museum of
Natural History 163(2): 75-122.

Heaney, L.R., Balete, D.S., Dollar, M.L., Alcala, A.C., Dans, A.T.L., Gonzales, P.C., Ingle, N.R., Lepiten, M.V.,
Oliver, W.L.R., Ong, P.S., Rickart, E.A., Tabaranza Jr., B.R. and Utzurrum, R.C.B. 1998. A synopsis of the
mammalian fauna of the Philippine Islands. Fieldiana: Zoology (New Series) 88: 1–61.

Heaney, L.R., Gonzales, P.C., Utzurrum, R.C.B. and Rickart, E.A. 1991. The mammals of Cataduanes
Island: Implications for the biogeography of small land-bridge islands in the Philippines. Proceedings of
the Biological Society of Washington 104(2): 399-415.

Heideman, P. D. and Heaney, L. R. 1989. Population biology and estimates of abundance of fruit bats
(Pteropodidae) in Philippine submontane rainforest. Journal of Zoology (London) 218: 565-586.

Kitchener, D.J., Boeadi, Charlton, L. and Maharadatunkamsi. 1990. The wild mammals of Lombok Island.
Records of the Western Australian Museum 33: 1-129.

Lepiten, M. V. 1995. The Mammals of Siquijor Island, Central Philippines. Sylvatrop, The Technical
Journal of Philippine Ecosystems and Natural Resources 5: 1-17.

Mickleburgh, S. P., Hutson, A. M. and Racey, P. A. 1992. Old World Fruit-Bats - An Action Plan for their
Conservation. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland.

Rickart, E.A., Heaney, L.R., Heidman, P.D. and Utzurrum, R.C.B. 1993. The distribution and ecology of
mammals on Leyte, Biliran, and Maripipi islands, Philippines. Fieldiana: Zoology 72: 1-62.

Smith, A.T., Yan Xie, Hoffman, R., Lunde, D., MacKinnon, J., Wilson, D.E. and Wozencraft, W.C. 2008. A
Guide to the Mammals of China. Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey.

Utzurrum, R. C. B. 1992. Conservation status of Philippine fruit bats (Pteropodidae). Silliman Journal 36:
27-45.

Citation
Csorba, G., Rosell-Ambal, G. & Ingle, N. 2008. Rousettus amplexicaudatus. The IUCN Red List of

© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Rousettus amplexicaudatus – published in 2008. 5
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T19754A9010480.en
Threatened Species 2008: e.T19754A9010480.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T19754A9010480.en

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External Resources
For Images and External Links to Additional Information, please see the Red List website.

© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Rousettus amplexicaudatus – published in 2008. 6
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T19754A9010480.en
 Appendix

Habitats
(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)

Major
Habitat Season Suitability
Importance?

1. Forest -> 1.6. Forest - Subtropical/Tropical Moist Lowland - Suitable -

1. Forest -> 1.9. Forest - Subtropical/Tropical Moist Montane - Suitable -

0. Root -> 6. Rocky areas (eg. inland cliffs, mountain peaks) - Suitable -

7. Caves and Subterranean Habitats (non-aquatic) -> 7.1. Caves and - Suitable -
Subterranean Habitats (non-aquatic) - Caves

14. Artificial/Terrestrial -> 14.3. Artificial/Terrestrial - Plantations - Suitable -

14. Artificial/Terrestrial -> 14.4. Artificial/Terrestrial - Rural Gardens - Suitable -

Use and Trade

(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)

End Use Local National International

Food - human Yes Yes No

Conservation Actions in Place

(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)

Conservation Actions in Place

In-Place Land/Water Protection and Management

Conservation sites identified: Yes, over entire range

Additional Data Fields

Distribution
Lower elevation limit (m): 0

Upper elevation limit (m): 2200

Population
Population severely fragmented: No

© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Rousettus amplexicaudatus – published in 2008. 7
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T19754A9010480.en
The IUCN Red List Partnership

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ is produced and managed by the IUCN Global Species
Programme, the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) and The IUCN Red List Partnership. The IUCN
Red List Partners are: BirdLife International; Botanic Gardens Conservation International; Conservation
International; Microsoft; NatureServe; Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Sapienza University of Rome; Texas
A&M University; Wildscreen; and Zoological Society of London.

THE IUCN RED LIST OF THREATENED SPECIES™