Seasonal variation in the reproductive tract of the Indian flying fox, Pteropus giganteus (Brünnich, 1782)

Abstract

Seasonal variation in the reproductive tract of Pteropus giganteus was studied at 13 sites of the Pothwar Plateau and Islamabad Capital Territory. Ninety-three dead specimens were collected from roosts, orchards and home-based small cultivations of fruit trees. In males, seasonal differences in testis length, testis width, cauda epididymidis length and penis length were recorded. Positive correlations were found between body weight, body length and all parameters of male reproductive tract. Significant monthly variations in testes conditions (viz. flaccid and turgid) were observed. In females, seasonal variation in reproductive tract weight, ovary length, ovary width, uterus length and uterus width were seen. In females, a strong relationship of body weight with total body length and female reproductive tract parameters were found. In flying foxes’ population of Pothwar, first mating was observed in December-January and second in June-July, suggesting two mating seasons in winter and summer.