Abstract
The diet of Pteropus giganteus from three roosts in Mandalay Region, central Myanmar was investigated for over two years by examining feeding remains in and around two villages. It consists of 24 species of fruits, six species of flowers and three of leaves. Of these, 13 species of fruits are eaten by the local people, three of which are also marketed. Two are used in traditional medicine and one for stuffing pillows. Most dietary plants are native, mangoes are seasonally superabundant and are eaten in large numbers. Interviews revealed no evidence of conflict between bats and villagers.
Highlights
Flying Foxes (Chiroptera: Pteropodidae; genus Pteropus) eat a wide range of flowers, fruits and leaves (Lobova et al 2009; Fleming & Kress 2011)
The aims of this paper are to describe the diet of the commonest flying fox species in the country, P. giganteus and to assess the likelihood of its dietary habits leading to conflict with local people
The study species was confirmed as P. giganteus by netting two individuals on the flight path between a roost and the foraging areas (Images 1 & 2)
Summary
Flying Foxes (Chiroptera: Pteropodidae; genus Pteropus) eat a wide range of flowers, fruits and leaves (Lobova et al 2009; Fleming & Kress 2011). Some studies have suggested that the clearance of land for agriculture has led to a loss of bat’s natural foraging habitat and food plants and as a result they feed on commercial fruits (Aziz et al in press). This often leads to conflict between bats and those who pick and market the fruits. The aims of this paper are to describe the diet of the commonest flying fox species in the country, P. giganteus and to assess the likelihood of its dietary habits leading to conflict with local people
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