In 1964, 11 specimens of Dobsonia inermis were collected on Choiseul. They are smaller, externally and cranially, than specimens of D. inermis from Sun Cristobal, Ugi, Rennell, Guadalcanal, Florida, Rubiana, Vella Lavella, Shortland, Alu, Bougainville, and Fauro, and may be named and described as follows:
Dobsonia inermis minimus, new subspecies
Type.—Adult male skin and skull, in good condition (originally stored in 70 per cent alcohol for about one year), no. BBM-BSIP 23716, Bernice P. Bishop Museum; from Choiseul Island, British Solomon Islands Protectorate; obtained on 20 March 1964 by Philip Temple, original number 1524.
Distribution.—Choiseul Island (type locality); intergrades from Santa Ysabel also assigned to this subspecies.
Diagnosis.—Size small for species; wing membranes, feet, and ears black; dorsal surface of interfemoral membrane sparsely set with silvery hairs, other membranes naked; hair soft, medium length (10 on mantle, 5 on crown), black hairs and scattered white hairs on face and crown; fur of dorsal surface of mantle composed of whitish hairs having faint olive cast imparting general color of Buffy-Citrine; hair of venter short (about 5), soft, and fine; general coloration Buffy-Citrine; cranium delicate; rostrum narrow in dorsal aspect (nasals not expanded laterally); forehead (junction of nasals and frontals) pronounced in lateral aspect; teeth resembling those of other subspecies of D. inermis but slightly smaller.
Comparisons.—From adults of Dobsonia inermis inermis, which occurs on Rennell, San Cristobal, Ugi, Malaita, Florida, Guadalcanal, Rubiana, Vella Lavella, Shortland, Alu, Bougainville, and Fauro, minimus differs in being smaller. Average length of mandible 31.2 and 33.4. For other measurements see [Table 2].
From Dobsonia praedatrix, which occurs on New Britain, New Ireland, and Duke of York (northward of the Solomons), minimus differs in being smaller in all dimensions; length of forearm averaging 100.5 as opposed to 116.0, and greatest length of skull 42.4 as opposed to 50.0.
