Balionycterisseimundi Kloss, 1921

Balionycteris maculata seimundi Kloss, 1921: 229 . Junction of Tahan and Teku rivers, foot of Gunung Tahan, Pahang, MALAYSIA (E. Seimund, collector; MNM 1 /21) [39].

Balionycteris maculata [8].

Common English name: Spotted-winged Fruit Bat

Barcode Index Number: BOLD:AAB7907 (14 DNA barcodes from Peninsular Malaysia; Fig 2).

Remarks: Originally described as a subspecies of B. maculata [9]. Khan et al. [32] reported a high genetic distance (12%) in cytochrome b mtDNA between B. maculata sensu lato populations in Peninsular Malaysia and Borneo and consequently raised B. seimundi as a distinct species. The same pattern was also observed in COI mtDNA (Fig 2; also see Fig 2 in [4]). Following Khan et al. [32], the name of the taxon in Peninsular Malaysia should be updated to B. seimundi .

IUCN status: Least Concern

Recorded at: As B. maculata: Pahang: Gunung Tahan [39], Merapoh [40], Krau Wildlife Reserve [11, 41, 42], Tasik Chini [43], Kuala Atok National Park [44]; Negeri Sembilan: Pasoh Forest Reserve [45]; Perak: Temengor Forest Reserve [46, 47], Royal Belum State Park [48], Bayor River-Rantau Panjang [49]; Perlis: Wang Kelian State Park [50]; Selangor: Bukit Lanjan [40], Bangi Forest Reserve [41], Bukit Kutu Wildlife Reserve [51], Ulu Gombak [52 – 54], Air Hitam Forest Reserve [55], Sungai Dusun Forest Reserve and Lata Bujang Forest Reserve [56]; Johor: Endau-Kota Tinggi Forest Reserve [56]; Kedah: Ulu Muda Forest Reserve [57].

B. seimundi tends to roost in small harem groups in sites with bell-shaped cavities and smooth surfaces [11]. Individuals have also been found roosting in crowns of palms, clumps of epiphytic ferns, arboreal ant nests, hollowed arboreal termite nests and hollowed detached large branches [11, 14, 23].