Pteropus melanotus melanotus:
Habitat.—On both the Andaman and Nicobar Islands P. m. melanotus roosts are located throughout the primary forests and among the settlements. Large colonies of up to 2,000 individuals have been reported among the primary forests, compared to < 200 individuals among the settlements. On the Andaman Islands large colonies have been primarily roosting in the mangrove trees of the islands’ interior and in Ficus spp. within Evergreen forest habitats (Aul 2007). On the Nicobar Islands, large colonies primarily occur among wetland habitats in both mangrove trees and Nypa fruticans (Aul 2007). Many of the roost sites throughout the Nicobar Islands were destroyed following a tsunami in 2004, while the Andaman Islands were only minimally affected (Aul 2007, Aul et al. 2014). In January 2005 only a small colony (10 -15 individuals) was observed roosting on Casurina sp. in the littoral forest of Kamorta Island (Aul 2007). On Great Nicobar and Tillangchong Islands, colonies moved to inland forest areas. In April 2006 a colony (> 500 individuals) re-established following the recovery of Nypa fruticans (Aul et al. 2014).

Ecology.—On islands throughout the Andaman and Nicobar Archipelagos, where multiple fruit eating bat species are present, competition for forage resources has resulted in niche separation among the species (Aul 2007). Pteropus melanotus melanotus is reported to forage on fruits of 21 species and the pollen/nectar of one species (Aul 2007). Although there is some overlap in foraging habitats and in the plant species consumed among the bat species, P. m. melanotus forages later in the evening than other bat species, starting at 2,300 h with a peak in foraging activity around 0200 h (Aul 2007). Pteropus melanotus melanotus prefers to forage in the primary inland forest as compared to the agro forests preferred by other species and will exploit foraging resources among the tree canopies at heights > 20 meters (Aul 2007).

Information on the life-histories of P. m. melanotus is limited to the timing of birth and mating, Females give birth to pups between the months of December and April (Aul 2007). The mating season for P. m. melanotus is suggested to occur in the months of May and June at the onset of the Monsoon (Aul 2007).

Pteropus melanotus natalis:
Habitat.—On Christmas Island, P. m. natalis aggregates seasonally in response to reproduction (i.e., mating and birth), available food resources and weather (i.e., changes in wind direction). In general, colonial roosts are primarily occupied during the dry season for the purpose of mating, with regular movements of juvenile, sub-adult and competing adult male bats between roosts (Tidemann 1985, C. M. Todd and A. Dorrestein pers. comm.). During the wet season a large portion of the population abandons the main colonial sites, roosting singularly or in small groups across the island (Tidemann 1985, C. M. Todd and A. Dorrestein pers. comm.). However, during any time of the year small groups or single individuals can be found scattered across the island (C. M. Todd and A. Dorrestein pers. comm.). Some colonies have been used repeatedly for over 30 years and are suggested to date back to 1908, before human settlement, while others are abandoned for unknown reasons. In 1984, the first surveys identified the location of five colonies. Three colonies were located along the east coast of the island, one colony was located to the west on the northwest point of the island, and one colony was located in the middle of the southern coast. A sixth colony was later located along the east coast in 1988 (Tidemann 1985). Several surveys conducted between 1997 and 2006 were only able to confirm the continued use of three historical colony locations (Corbett et al. 2003, James et al. 2007). Recent surveys conducted between 2015 and 2020 confirm the continued use of the two historical colony sites identified in 1984 as well as an additional five new colony sites. All colonies were located on the coastal terrace or close to the first inland cliff in semi-deciduous forest with varying structural features. One common feature among these locations is their proximity to the coast, which is suggested to be advantageous as it allows P. m. natalis to take advantage of on-shore winds, facilitating take-off (Tidemann 1985). The average number of individuals occupying these established colonies in a given month fluctuates between 119 and 762 individuals (C. M. Todd and A. Dorrestein unpub.). Site fidelity at the colony fluctuates greatly over the year, with a peak in adult roost fidelity during mating season (A. Dorrestein unpub.). Generally, low roost fidelity coincides with observations of multiple roosts, comprised of a single or few individuals, scattered across the island. Eighteen plant species have been identified as roost trees used by P. m. natalis (Tidemann 1985, James et al. 2007, C. M. Todd pers. obs.). To date there does not seem to be any information regarding the relevance of these particular roost tree species.

Ecology.—On Christmas Island, there is no competition for foraging resources as P. m. natalis is the only bat species present and the largest of two species that function as both a pollinator and seed disperser, the other being the Christmas Island white-eye (Zosterops natalis) weighing 12 g. Pteropus melanotus natalis is relatively diurnal, emerging from camps as early as 1,300h to forage, although the bulk of the population will emerge from the roost at dusk between and 1,500 and 1,830 h (Tidemann 1985, C. M. Todd and A. Dorrestein pers. obs.). Pteropus melanotus natalis forages on the fruits of 33 plants, the flowers of 33 plant species, the leaves of four plant species and the stem of one plant species, representing a total of 56 plant species from 34 families (C. M. Todd unpub). The mean foraging range for P. m. natalis was 237 ± 115 ha with some individuals traveling up to 14 km between their roost and foraging sites (C. M. Todd unpub.). These foraging movements by P. m.natalis indicate that they are capable of foraging across the entirety of the island but prefer to forage in perennial wetland, Evergreen and Semi-deciduous forest habitats (C. M. Todd and A. Dorrestein pers. coms.).
Recent studies on the life-history of P. m. natalis have examined rates of growth, maturation and the timing of reproduction events. Females give birth to pups between the months of December and April (Todd et al. 2018). The peak of the birthing period occurs in the months of February and March, with newborn pups reaching volancy between the months of June and November (Todd et al. 2018). The mating season for P. m. natalis occurs between the months of June and August (Todd et al. 2018), prior to the monsoon season in November. Although a majority of the P. m. natalis population follows an annual cycle of reproduction, mating, parturition, and volancy were not limited to the peak periods and occurred with appreciable frequencies throughout much of the year (Todd et al. 2018). Using estimates of growth and maturation rates, juvenile males begin to mature at 15 months after birth and reach maturity at 27 months, while females reach maturity at 24 months after birth (Todd et al. 2018). However, adult male P. m. natalis reach sexual majority at lower average body mass than a fully mature adult. Mating success is suggested to be constrained until their fourth year when males attain adequate body mass and are able to defend mating territories (Todd et al. 2018).

Pteropus melanotus modiglianii:
Habitat.—Suggested to be similar to other subspecies, however no information is available for either sub population the Mentawai Islands or Enggano.

Ecology.—Suggested to be similar to other subspecies, however no information is available for either sub population the Mentawai Islands or Enggano.

Currently there are three subspecies recognized within the Pteropus melanotus group. Pteropus melanotus melanotus (synm: Pteropus melanotus tytleri) may consist of two subpopulations with one subpopulation limited to the islands of Kwagtung, Landfall, North Reef, Smith, West, Interview, Baratang, Long, Outram, Neil, Havelock, Boat, Rutland, Little Andaman, Paget, East Twin, Port Blair and South Sentinel Islands in the Andaman Island group (Hill 1967, Aul et al. 2014, Srinivasulu et al. 2017). The other subpopulation of the subspecies Pteropus melanotus melanotus is limited to the islands of Tressa, Bompuka, Tilangchong, Katchal, Nancowrie, Kamorta, Little Nicobar, Great Nicobar (including Campbell Bay), Car Nicobar, and Trinket Islands in the Nicobar Island group (Saha 1980, Aul and Vijayakumar 2003, Aul et al. 2014). The subspecies Pteropus melanotus natalis is limited to Christmas Island of Australia. In the Mentawi Islands of Indonesia, the subspecies Pteropus melanotus modiglianii has been reported to occur on Nias Island (Hill 1971, Molur et al. 2002), although the current status is unknown. The subpopulation of Pteropus melanotus modiglianii on Enggano Island, Indonesia was previously reported as extirpated following a severe typhoon, however this requires verification. The species occurs from sea level to 1,000 m asl.