CR

Negros Naked-backed Fruit Bat

Dobsonia chapmani

Declining

Overview

The Philippine naked-backed fruit bat or Philippine bare-backed fruit bat is a megabat that mostly lives on Negros Island. Two small populations were also found on Cebu Island in the Philippines. Like other bare-backed fruit bats, its wings meet along the midline of their bodies, making it a very agile flier. It roosted in caves, in areas where little light penetrated the gloom. It was so abundant once that it left piles of guano, which were used by miners as fertilizer.

Dobsonia chapmani faces severe population decline primarily due to extensive deforestation and habitat fragmentation across its limited range in the Philippines. Mining operations and agricultural expansion have destroyed critical roosting sites in limestone caves and surrounding forest areas. The species' restricted distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to local extinctions, with hunting pressure and disturbance at roost sites further compromising remaining populations.

Threat summary

Habitat

This fruit bat inhabits primary and secondary tropical forests in the Philippines, particularly areas near limestone karst formations with suitable cave systems for roosting. The species requires intact forest canopy for foraging and depends on undisturbed cave environments for daytime shelter and breeding colonies.

Forest· majorRocky areas· majorCaves and subterranean habitats· major

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protectionHabitat & natural process restorationSpecies recoveryCompliance and enforcement

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Negros Naked-backed Fruit Bat classified as Critically Endangered?
Negros Naked-backed Fruit Bat is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. Dobsonia chapmani faces severe population decline primarily due to extensive deforestation and habitat fragmentation across its limited range in the Philippines. Mining operations and agricultural expansion have destroyed critical roosting sites in limestone caves and surrounding forest areas. The species' restricted distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to local extinctions, with hunting pressure and disturbance at roost sites further compromising remaining populations.
Where does Negros Naked-backed Fruit Bat live?
Negros Naked-backed Fruit Bat occurs in Philippines. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Negros Naked-backed Fruit Bat?
The main threats to Negros Naked-backed Fruit Bat are 2.1, 3.2, 5.1, and 5.3. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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