Cynopterus Brachyotis Research Articles

Old world fruit bats (Pteropodidae, Chiroptera) from the pleistocene of Vietnam

Isolated teeth of a lesser short-nosed fruit bat Cynopterus brachyotis (Müller, 1838), a fulvous fruit bat Rousettus leschenaultii (Desmarest, 1820), and a dawn bat Eonycteris spelaea (Dobson, 1871) are described from the Middle Pleistocene Tham Hai cave locality in northern Vietnam (Lang Son Province). These are the first fossil findings of the Old World fruit bats in Vietnam. The Middle Pleistocene association of Pteropodidae from the Tham Hai locality may largely reflect the composition of species that roosted in local caves.

DIVERSITY OF BATS IN HALABAN MONITORING POST AREA, SEI BETUNG, GUNUNG LEUSER NATIONAL PARK

Halaban Monitoring Post, Sei Betung Resort, Gunung Leuser National Park is a rehabilitated forest restoration location since 2017 after previously being diversified from oil palm land. The location has currently become a habitat for various types of animals, including bats. The identification of bat species at the Halaban Monitoring Post is conducted to assess the presence of fauna, with important ecological roles in pollination. Identification was conducted using mist nets installed at five observation points. Our observations showed that 87 individuals of Microchiroptera family bats were found, belonging to 4 species: Cynopterus brachyotis (38 individuals), Cynopterus minutus (15 individuals), Glischropus tylopus (1 individual), Hipposideros cervinus (33 individuals). Further analysis showed Shannon-Wiener diversity index ranges from 0.0 to 0.94 and Margalef species richness index ranges from 0.0 to 0.69. Bat abundance tends to be evenly distributed with an evenness index of 0.0 to 1.35. There is a dominant species at one of the locations with a dominance index value of 0.85.

Old World Fruit Bats (Pteropodidae, Chiroptera) from the Pleistocene of Vietnam.

Isolated teeth of a lesser short-nosed fruit bat Cynopterus brachyotis (Müller, 1838), a fulvous fruit bat Rousettus leschenaultii (Desmarest, 1820), and a dawn bat Eonycteris spelaea (Dobson, 1871) are described from the Middle Pleistocene Tham Hai cave locality in northern Vietnam (Lang Son Province). These are the first fossil findings of the Old World fruit bats in Vietnam. The Middle Pleistocene association of Pteropodidae from the Tham Hai locality may largely reflect the composition of species that roosted in local caves.

Preliminary checklist on species composition of small mammals and birds in Marine Research Excellence Centre (MAREC), Pulau Tuba.

Located in Langkawi archipelago, Andaman Sea, Pulau Tuba is one of the islands that is densely protected as a forest reserve. We investigated and documented the species composition of small mammals and birds at two different sites in the forest of UiTM Marine Research Excellence Centre (MAREC). Wire cage traps were used to capture non-volant small mammals while mist nets were used to capture bats and understorey birds. A total of 35 individuals were captured consisting of four species of small mammals and four species of birds. Among the most abundant species captured were Rattus tiomanicus, Leopoldamys sabanus and Cynopterus brachyotis. The calculated Shannon diversity index was 1.58 indicating a low diversity of small mammals and birds within the area. Our current study stipulated that few individuals were caught due to the rainy season affecting Pulau Tuba during the study period. Further surveys and studies should be conducted for a longer period in different seasons so that more species of fauna can be documented.

DIVERSITY OF ECTOPARASITES ON BATS IN DRAMAGA, BOGOR, INDONESIA

Ectoparasites infestation is one of the major health problems affecting animals, including bats, which are known as reservoir hosts for various pathogens. Several reports have shown that a comprehensive understanding of ectoparasites on these animals is crucial from a public health perspective. Therefore, this study aims to identify the diversity of ectoparasites on bats in Dramaga, Bogor, Indonesia. The samples were captured at night with a mist net and then identified using the species identification key. Ectoparasites were collected from the body of the samples and identified using a microscope. A total of 56 bats from 9 species, namely Cynopterus brachyotis, Cynopterus sphinx, Cynopterus titthaecheilus, Macroglossus sobrinus, Rousettus leschenaultii, Myotis muricola, Nycteris javanica, Pipistrellus javanicus, and Scotophilus kuhlii were obtained in this study. The results of ectoparasites identification showed the presence of Basilia spp., Eucampsipoda sp., Leptocyclopodia ferrarii (Nycteribiidae), Raymondia sp. (Streblidae), Meristaspis spp., Spinturnix spp. (Spinturnicidae), and ticks (Ixodidae). The total prevalence of infested bats was 51.7%, with females tending to have a higher intensity compared to males. Bats species with the highest prevalence of infestation were Rousettus leschenaultii and Myotis muricola. Meanwhile, this study found no ectoparasites on Macroglossus sobrinus and Scotophilus kuhlii.

Bat diversity and its distribution in Mount Gutom Protected Landscape, Zamboanga del Norte, Philippines

Abstract. Lama JMN, Caballero EB, Mondejar EP. 2023. Bat diversity and its distribution in Mount Gutom Protected Landscape, Zamboanga del Norte, Philippines. Biodiversitas 24: 5495-5502. Bats play an indispensable role in the balance of the ecosystem in their habitats, which range from the seaside to mountains, caves, and rivers. This study surveyed the flying mammals of Mt. Gutom Protected Landscape, Zamboanga del Norte, Philippines, on April 12-23 and December 7-20, 2022. Mist netting was used to sample bats at the four sampling sites, with a total sampling effort of 126 net-nights. A total of eight species (n=330 individuals) representing two families was recorded. This includes Lesser Dog-faced fruit bat (Cynopterus brachyotis), Philippine Dawn bat (Eonycteris robusta), Philippine Pygmy fruit bat (Haplonycteris fischeri), Harpy fruit bat (Harpyionycteris whiteheadi), Dagger-toothed long-nosed fruit bat (Macroglossus minimus), Greater Musky fruit bat (Ptenochirus jagori), Lesser Musky fruit bat (P. minor), and Horsfield’s myotis (Myotis horsfieldii). The Lesser Dog-faced fruit bat (Cynopterus brachyotis) was the most abundant species in Mt. Gutom, with relative abundance of 40.91% (n=135 individuals). Mt. Gutom also supports endemic species, with 62.5% endemicity, and a Vulnerable species (Eonycteris robusta) was documented only in Site 2 (a mixed secondary dipterocarp forest). Moreover, sampling site 3 (secondary dipterocarp forest) recorded the highest abundance (RA=44.24%) and species diversity index (H’=1.376) among the four sampling sites. The results suggest that Mt. Gutom supports a diverse species of bats and conservation measures are needed to protect the remaining habitats in the area.

Phylogenetic and genetic variation analysis of lesser short-nosed fruit bat Cynopterus brachyotis (Müller 1838) on Java island, Indonesia, inferred from mitochondrial D-loop

BackgroundCynopterus brachyotis (Müller 1838) is a generalist and widespread fruit bat species which inhabits different types of habitats in Southeast Asia. This species plays an essential role as a seed disperser and pollinator. Morphological study and phylogenetic analysis using mtDNA markers (cyt-b and D-loop) revealed that this species had two different forms in peninsular Malaysia and Borneo and six lineages in Southeast Asia that lead to new species formation. In addition, this species is also reported to have high genetic diversity in Malaysia and Thailand based on the D-loop sequence. However, a phylogenetic and genetic variation study of C. brachyotis in Indonesia has not been conducted yet. These two studies are important as additional information for taxonomic and population genetic studies of this species. Thus, we performed the phylogenetic and genetic diversity analysis of the C. brachyotis population collected from seven habitats on Java island, including open-fragmented habitats (urban, coffee and rubber plantations, pine forest, secondary forest, mangrove forest) and closed habitats (natural forest) using the mtDNA D-loop marker. ResultsThe phylogenetic tree using the Bayesian inference (BI) and genetic distance using the Kimura-2 parameter (K-2P) demonstrated that 33 individuals of C. brachyotis from seven habitats on Java island overlapped between habitats and could not be distinguished according to their habitats and lineage. Intrapopulation and intraspecies analysis revealed high haplotype diversity of this species on Java island (Hd = 0.933–1.000). The haplotype network was split into two haplogroups, showing haplotype sharing between habitats. These phylogenetic and genetic variations analysis of C. brachyotis bats on Java island indicated that this species is widespread and adapt to different habitats. ConclusionsThis study of C. brachyotis on Java island collected from seven different habitats has overlapped and genetically close and has high genetic variation. Our results provide the first reported study of C. brachyotis on Java island and provide data to understand the phylogenetic and genetic diversity of this species in Indonesia.

BATS OF PULAU TINGGI, JOHOR, MALAYSIA

A series of bat surveys took place in Pulau Tinggi from July 2019 to September 2019. A total of 242 individuals representing 15 species from six families were captured from a cumulative effort of 462 trap nights. The most caught species for frugivorous bats was Cynopterus brachyotis (n = 150) while for insectivorous bats, it was Hipposideros cervinus (n = 20). Pulau Tinggi has a high density of bat species per area (1.01 sp/km2) when compared to other tourist islands on Peninsular Malaysia’s east coast [e.g., Pulau Tioman (0.13 sp/km2), Pulau Perhentian (0.5 sp/km2) and Pulau Redang (0.4 sp/km2)]. As a result, high levels of disturbance such as tourism and habitat loss may negatively affect the diversity of bat species on the island. Because of time constraints and the study did not cover the entire island, information on the diversity of bats in Pulau Tinggi is still inadequate. Long-term monitoring of bat diversity covering forest areas throughout the island needs to be conducted immediately to identify the number of species, their distribution and ecology. This information is important in formulating a strategic plan for bat conservation in Pulau Tinggi.

Power requirements for bat-inspired flapping flight with heavy, highly articulated and cambered wings.

Bats fly with highly articulated and heavy wings. To understand their power requirements, we develop a three-dimensional reduced-order model, and apply it to flights of Cynopterus brachyotis, the lesser dog-faced fruit bat. Using previously measured wing kinematics, the model computes aerodynamic forces using blade element momentum theory, and incorporates inertial forces of the flapping wing using the measured mass distribution of the membrane wing and body. The two are combined into a Lagrangian equation of motion, and we performed Monte Carlo simulations to address uncertainties in measurement errors and modelling assumptions. We find that the camber of the armwing decreases with flight speed whereas the handwing camber is more independent of speed. Wing camber disproportionately impacts energetics, mainly during the downstroke, and increases the power requirement from 8% to 22% over flight speed U = 3.2-7.4 m s-1. We separate total power into aerodynamic and inertial components, and aerodynamic power into parasitic, profile and induced power, and find strong agreement with previous theoretical and experimental studies. We find that inertia of wings help to balance aerodynamic forces, alleviating the muscle power required for weight support and thrust generation. Furthermore, the model suggests aerodynamic forces assist in lifting the heavy wing during upstroke.

Research notes on bats’ species assemblage in Madai Cave of Segama Valley, Sabah, Malaysia

Insectivorous bats spend approximately half of their lives in the roost. Most of them are cave-dwelling and use the caves as roosting grounds. Roosts are important for mating, hibernation, rearing young, and a place to socialise, while providing protection from predators in a thermo-stable environment. This study aims to assess the diversity of insectivorous bats at Madai caves in Kunak, Lahad Datu, Sabah over a temporal period of 8 years. The sampling of bats was conducted twice i.e. in August 2010 and in December 2018. Harp traps and mist nets were used to sample bats in all sampling sessions. Eighteen species of bats, including two fruit bats, Cynopterus brachyotis and Rousettus spinalatus, were identified from the study site. Four insectivorous bat species were found in both years consistently i.e. Hipposideros cervinus, Rhinolophus creaghi, R. philippinensis, and Chaerephon plicatus. The species list in 2010 and 2018 differed by more than 50%, which may be a cause of concern and warrants further investigation. Most of the listed species are categorised as Least Concern, under the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, except for Rousettus spinalatus, Hipposideros ridleyi and Miniopterus schreibersii which are listed as vulnerable. Only Hipposideros dyacorum is protected under Sabah Wildlife Enactment (1997). These findings will assist policymakers in making decisions on the importance to conserve the natural habitats of bats.

Optimum Design of a Novel Bio-Inspired Bat Robot

Inspired by the agility, high efficiency, and low noise of bat flight, we propose the design of an unoccupied aerial vehicle (UAV) that can mimic the flight behaviors of bats. By adjusting the wing flapping and morphing during both upstroke and downstroke phases, bats achieve aerodynamic performance that generates sufficient lift and thrust forces for diverse maneuvers. To mimic bat morphology in a robot, we use a multi-objective optimization method to determine the Cartesian positions of the wings, and the elbow angle, which in turn influences the wing area. Our goal is to minimize the differences between the biological bat’s limb trajectories (elbow angles and Cartesian trajectories) and those of the robot. Due to the complex dimensionality of bats, a mathematical tool: Principal Component Analysis, is combined with the weighted sum method in the optimization algorithm. Via simulation, we observed overall agreement of elbow angles between the kinematics of a biological bat (Pteropodidae: <italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">Cynopterus brachyotis</i> ) and the robot, along with a reasonable match on the folding and flapping angles. The proposed method provides a straightforward and robust approach for the optimization of bat-inspired robots.

Importance of Mangroves for Bat Research and Conservation: A Case Study from Vietnam with Notes on Echolocation of Myotis hasselti

Mangrove ecosystems play important ecological roles, including the mitigation of global climate change and biodiversity conservation. However, they have received little attention from scientists for the research and conservation of bats and general biodiversity. In Vietnam, bat species inhabiting mangroves have been relatively unstudied, while this ecosystem is located along the country’s coastal zones and has declined dramatically due to the development of agriculture, wind energy and other threats. To initially fill this gap, five bat surveys were conducted between September 2019 and November 2021 within Ha Long Bay and Ben Tre province, which contain representative mangrove areas of northern and southern regions of Vietnam, respectively. Bats were captured using mist nets, mobile nets and hand nets. Their echolocation calls were recorded and analyzed using the PCTape system and Selena software, respectively. Five species were captured and recorded: Cynopterus brachyotis, Macroglossus minimus, Myotis hasselti, Myotis pilosus and Taphozous melanopogon. They are all new to both Ha Long Bay and Ben Tre province. Four species (C. brachyotis, M. minimus, M. hasselti and M. pilosus) have been rarely documented from other ecosystems in Vietnam but have commonly been recorded and captured in mangrove areas. Of these species, M. pilosus is a globally “Vulnerable” species. While searching for prey, Myotis hasselti emitted high energy echolocation calls sweeping from about 96 to about 24 kHz with a signal duration of about 5 ms. This species sometimes uses social calls of a horseshoe-shaped structure, which last about 15 ms and are emitted about 26 ms in front of a search call. Results from our surveys indicated the importance and potential of mangroves for bat research and conservation.

A novel clade of bat-associated Bartonella detected in the bat fly Leptocyclopodia ferrari (Diptera: Nycteribiidae) parasitizing Cynopterus brachyotis (Chiroptera: Pteropodidae)

Bartonelloses are emerging infectious diseases that are common in humans and animals worldwide. Several Bartonella species associated with companion animals such as Bartonella henselae and Bartonella rochalimae are species with zoonotic implications and have become a global concern. Other Bartonella species associated with wild animals, however, remain underappreciated particularly in the developing regions of the world. To explore further on this neglected bacterial agent, Leptocyclopodia ferrari (Nycteribiidae) bat flies collected from Cynopterus brachyotis (Pteropodidae), an endemic fruit bat species in Southeast Asia, were molecularly examined for the presence of Bartonella. Both 16 S–23 S ribosomal RNA intergenic spacer region and citrate synthase gene sequences exhibited less than 95 % similarity to all previously reported Bartonella spp. Further phylogenetic analysis revealed a novel clade of this Bartonella sp. with high bootstrap support. The vectorial capacity of bat flies in transmitting this novel pathogen merits further investigation.

Identification of ectoparasites and endoparasites on fruit bats (Cynopterus brachyotis) in Ketapang Timur Village, Ketapang Sub-District, Sampang District

This study aims to determine the ectoparasites and endoparasites that infest fruit bats (Cynopterus brachyotis) in Ketapang Timur, Ketapang District, Sampang Regency. The samples in this study were blood, feces and ectoparasites from 50 fruit bats taken in Ketapang District, Sampang Regency. Blood samples were examined using a blood smear method with Giemsa staining, while stool samples were examined using three methods, namely native, sucrose floating, and acid-fast modification. Blood examination was checked using a microscope with 1000x magnification and stool examination at 400x magnification. The sample is considered positive if under microscope observation found parasites that match the characteristics of the protozoa sourced from scientific references. The results of the study of 50 fruit bats examined found five positives for digestive protozoa and ectoparasites, the infection was single, with details of one tail being infected with Eimeria sp. and one tail was infected by Leptocyclopodia ferrarii, while blood protozoa were not found. This study concludes that the type of protozoa found in the digestive tract is Eimeria sp. (14%) and ectoparasite Leptocyclopodia ferrarii. (2%). The total percentage obtained was 16% positive for a single infection of protozoa and ectoparasites from 50 fruit bats. Suggestions that can be put forward are to conduct further research using PCR and sequencing to obtain more specific and accurate identification results, for subspecies or strains.

Low-Order Modeling of Flapping Flight with Highly Articulated, Cambered, Heavy Wings

A three-dimensional low-order modeling technique is described for modeling both wing inertial and aerodynamic forces of animals and robots flapping heavy and morphing wings. The model is applied to prescribed kinematics from a previously measured flight of a lesser-nosed, dog-faced fruit bat (Cynopterus brachyotis) in straight and climbing flight. Quasi-steady blade element momentum theory is used to model the aerodynamic forces of the highly articulated wing, and a Lagrangian equation of motion is adopted to describe the overall wing–body dynamics that includes the wing inertia. These two distinct and independent models yield a good prediction of the thrust/drag balance, and are in excellent agreement of lift production. Unique to this approach, the quantitative effect of wing camber was examined within the framework, which contributes as much as 27% of the cycle-averaged lift, with a smaller price (10%) paid to drag.

Seasonal Activity of Fruit Bats in a Monoculture Rubber and Oil Palm Plantation in the Southern Philippines

The increasing expansion of monoculture plantations poses a major threat to Asian tropical biodiversity. Yet, in many countries such as the Philippines, the ability of species to persist within plantations has never been explored. We studied the seasonal activity and response of fruit bats in two types of monocultural plantations (rubber and oil palm) in the Southern Philippines from 2016–17 for 12 months. Our mist-netting and monitoring data showed that both plantations can support cosmopolitan species of fruit bats (Cynopterus brachyotis, Eonycteris spelaea, Macroglossus minimus, Ptenochirus jagori, and Rousettus amplexicaudatus), yet a significant variation in the abundance and guild distribution between plantations was observed. Rubber hosted a higher bat abundance than oil palm, which may be influenced by better habitat structure of the matrix (e.g., presence of orchard and fruit plantations) and practices occurring in the rubber plantation. We find that, among seasonal climatic variables, temperature showed significant negative effects on fruit bat abundance. Our results suggest that although monoculture plantations host low diversity (i.e., richness and endemism) they still support generalists which are still ecologically important species. Furthermore, wildlife-friendly commercial plantation practices could both enhance economic growth and biodiversity conservation in the Philippines. Our data both provide the potential for long-term monitoring in the Philippines and highlight the need for more comprehensive monitoring of other bat functional groups and their ability to transverse plantations to provide a more in-depth understanding of the roles and impacts of plantations and other land-use changes.

Small Pteropodid Bats are Important Pollinators of Durian in Terengganu, Malaysia

Bats are often misunderstood as agricultural pests and have received little attention for conservation efforts. However, bats are critical pollinators to commercially important agricultural products, such as durians. This study intends to confirm the role of small pteropodid bats as pollinating agents to flowering durian trees. Samplings were conducted in April 2018 to record bats visiting the flowers of two durian species, Durio zibethinus and Durio lowianus at Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI) Jerangau, Terengganu. Captured bats were swabbed for conspecific pollen load on their bodies to determine their potential role as pollinators. One hundred thirty-one (131) pollen swabs were collected from three pteropodid bat species: Eonycteris spelaea Dobson, Cynopterus brachyotis Dobson, and Cynopterus horsfieldii Gray. Only E. spelaea and C. brachyotis, however, were found with conspecific pollen loads on their bodies. Between the two, E. spelaea showed a higher potential to be the pollinating agent for the durian trees. Hence, they recorded more individuals carrying many conspecific pollen grains while visiting the trees. Thus, this finding will hopefully reduce the misconceptions held on bats and conserve them in Malaysia.

Notes on small mammals diversity at Perlis State Parks, Wang Kelian, Perlis, Malaysia

Three surveys were conducted to document diversity on small mammals at Perlis State Park, Wang Kelian, Perlis, Malaysia from 2019 until 2020. For each survey, a total of 50 cage traps, 10 mist-nets and two four-bank harp traps were set up for three-trapping nights along a 500 m transect line to sample small mammals. The opportunistic observation was also applying to record the incidence of small mammals. In total, 17 species of small mammals were documented during these surveys. Of these, seven species are volant small mammals, and ten species are non-volant small mammals. The family with the most diverse species was Pteropodidae with five species and Cynopterus brachyotis being the most dominant species (n = 46). Interestingly, these surveys report new distributional records for three small mammal species in Perlis State Park, though several studies have been conducted previously. This information demonstrates that there may be more species yet to be recorded from this study site. Comparing the species similarity between our study site and several state parks in Peninsular Malaysia shows that Perlis State Parks also holds a relatively high diversity of small mammals. Therefore, adequate conservation measures such as recognizing this state park as an important conservation area are needed to ensure valuable small mammals’ sustainability.

First record of bats (Mammalia: Chiroptera) from mangrove in Dam Nai area, Ninh Thuan province, central Vietnam

Dam Nai is one of the twelve best known lagoons in south central Vietnam. Habitats in and around the largoon and its surroundings are quite diverse including mangrove, bushes, rice fields and fruit tree farms which are ecologically suitable for many animals including bats. However, bats in this area still receives very little attention from scientists. The author conducted a series of bat surveys since 2017 for the primary understanding of bats inhabiting this area before the establishment of a wind farm. The results show the records of two nationally rare fruit bat species, Cynopterus brachyotis and Macroglossus minimus, from mangrove in this area. Morphological features and detailed records of these two species are given in this paper with recommendations for further researches for conservation.

Diversity of fruit bats (Pteropodidae) and their ectoparasites in Batuputih Nature Tourism Park, Sulawesi, Indonesia

Abstract. Nangoy M, Ransaleleh T, Lengkong H, Koneri R, Latinne A, Kyes RC. 2021. Diversity of fruit bats (Pteropodidae) and their ectoparasites in Batuputih Nature Tourism Park, Sulawesi, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 22: 3075-3082. Bats play an important role in the ecosystem as pollinators, seed dispersers, and predators, therefore, this study aims to identify the diversity of fruit bat species and ectoparasites at Batuputih Nature Tourism Park, Sulawesi, Indonesia. The study was conducted from May to July 2019, and carried out in three different habitats, namely primary and secondary forest, as well as agricultural land. Besides, the bats were caught using a mist net while the ectoparasites were collected and identified using morphological criteria. A total of 253 bats were sampled representing 10 species (all belonging to the family Pteropodidae) namely Cynopterus brachyotis (24.90%), C. luzoniensis (9.88%), Dobsonia exoleta (1.19%), Macroglossus minimus (3.16%), Nictymene cephalotes (4.75%), N. minutus (0.79%), Rousettus amplexicaudatus (17%), R. celebensis (20.95%), Thoopterus nigrescens (17%), and Thoopterus sp. (0.4%). Cynopterus brachyotis was the most abundant species (n = 63). Meanwhile, a total of 479 ectoparasites were collected and identified as belonging to three families, namely Nycteribiidae, Streblidae, and Spinturnicidae. Nycteribiidae (genus Leptocyclopodia) was the most abundant ectoparasite taxa (n= 475) while the highest mean abundance and intensity were observed for the genus Thoopterus and Rousettus. This study provides important baseline data for future reference in monitoring bat population status and conservation efforts in the region. Given the close relationship between the local people and bats (e.g. hunting and consumption), more work is needed to address the potential pathogen risks from zoonotic transmission, both from bats and the respective ectoparasites.