Pteropodidae Gray 1821

Pteropodidae Gray 1821, London Med. Repos., 15: 299.

Synonyms: Cephalotidae Gray 1821; Harpyidae H. Smith 1842.

Genera: 42 genera with 186 species:

Genus Acerodon Jourdan 1837 (5 species with 10 subspecies)

Genus Aethalops Thomas 1923 (2 species with 3 subspecies)

Genus Alionycteris Kock 1969 (1 species)

Genus Aproteles Menzies 1977 (1 species)

Genus Balionycteris Matschie 1899 (1 species with 2 subspecies)

Genus Casinycteris Thomas 1910 (1 species)

Genus Chironax K. Andersen 1912 (1 species with 2 subspecies)

Genus Cynopterus F. Cuvier 1824 (7 species with 24 subspecies)

Genus Dobsonia Palmer 1898 (14 species with 6 subspecies)

Genus Dyacopterus K. Andersen 1912 (2 species)

Genus Eidolon Rafinesque 1815 (2 species with 3 subspecies)

Genus Eonycteris Dobson 1873 (3 species with 4 subspecies)

Genus Epomophorus Bennett 1835 (8 species with 2 subspecies)

Genus Epomops Gray 1870 (3 species)

Genus Haplonycteris Lawrence 1939 (1 species)

Genus Harpyionycteris Thomas 1896 (2 species with 2 subspecies)

Genus Hypsignathus H. Allen 1861 (1 species)

Genus Latidens Thonglongya 1972 (1 species)

Genus Lissonycteris K. Andersen 1912 (1 species with 5 subspecies)

Genus Macroglossus F. Cuvier 1824 (2 species with 6 subspecies)

Genus Megaerops Peters 1865 (4 species with 2 subspecies)

Genus Megaloglossus Pagenstecher 1885 (1 species)

Genus Melonycteris Dobson 1877 (3 species with 6 subspecies)

Genus Micropteropus Matschie 1899 (2 species)

Genus Myonycteris Matschie 1899 (3 species)

Genus Nanonycteris Matschie 1899 (1 species)

Genus Neopteryx Hayman 1946 (1 species)

Genus Notopteris Gray 1859 (2 species)

Genus Nyctimene Borkhausen 1797 (15 species with 15 subspecies)

Genus Otopteropus Kock 1969 (1 species)

Genus Paranyctimene Tate 1942 (2 species with 2 subspecies)

Genus Penthetor K. Andersen 1912 (1 species)

Genus Plerotes K. Andersen 1910 (1 species)

Genus Ptenochirus Peters 1861 (2 species)

Genus Pteralopex Thomas 1888 (5 species)

Genus Pteropus Brisson 1762 (65 species with 88 subspecies)

Genus Rousettus Gray 1821 (10 species with 14 subspecies)

Genus Scotonycteris Matschie 1894 (2 species with 3 subspecies)

Genus Sphaerias Miller 1906 (1 species)

Genus Styloctenium Matschie 1899 (1 species)

Genus Syconycteris Matschie 1899 (3 species with 7 subspecies)

Genus Thoopterus Matschie 1899 (1 species)

Discussion: Various workers have recognized between two and six subfamilies of Pteropodidae including: Cynopterinae Andersen, 1912, Epomophorinae K. Andersen, 1912, Harpionycterinae Miller, 1907, Nyctimeninae Miller, 1907, Macroglossinae Gray, 1866, Rousettinae Andersen, 1912, and Pteropodinae Gray, 1821 (Bergmans, 1997; Corbet and Hill, 1980, 1992; Hill and Smith, 1984; Koopman, 1993, 1994; McKenna and Bell, 1997). Recent phylogenetic studies agree that Macroglossinae and Pteropodinae sensu Koopman (1993, 1994) and McKenna and Bell (1997) are not monophyletic (Alvarez et al., 1999; Giannini and Simmons, 2003; Hollar and Springer, 1997; Hood, 1989; Juste et al., 1997; Kirsch et al., 1995; Romagnoli and Springer, 2000; Springer et al., 1995). Monophyly of cynopterines and empomophorines has also been questioned (Alvarez et al., 1999; Hollar and Springer, 1997; Kirsch et al., 1995; Romagnoli and Springer, 2000). Instead of supporting traditional taxonomic groupings, phylogenetic studies based on DNA hybridization and DNA sequences have found support for a large clade of endemic African taxa including genera previously placed in several different subfamilies/tribes (Alvarez et al., 1999; Giannini and Simmons, 2003; Hollar and Springer, 1997; Kirsch et al., 1995; Romagnoli and Springer, 2000). Relationships among pteropodid genera are not yet fully resolved, however, and questions remain concerning the position of Nyctimene, Paranyctimene, Eidolon, and several SE Asian endemic genera. Existing subfamilial and tribal classifications are not adequately congruent with recent phylogenies. Accordingly, no subfamilial or tribal groups are recognized here pending a thorough reevaluation of pteropodid classification.