Ethnomedicine of Gadia Lohars of Rajasthan

Abstract

Feeding activity: Feeding activity was noticed after sunset. Bats would fly to a chosen fruit tree, pluck a fruit or seed and return to their respective roost to consume them. This was seen only during a partly cloudy or rainy day. A total of 14 plant species (Table 1) were identified from the collection below day roosts. Plant species such as Muntigia calabura, Musa paradisica, Santalum album were seen to be constant throughout the year. The food sources were usually present 45-450m away from each of the colonies. The seeds found below the roost were collected and indentified periodicaly. No count was made on the amount of seeds of a paricular plant species.