Hipposideros Fulvus Research Articles

Distribution and roosting ecology of the lesser mousetailed bat, <i>Rhinopoma hardwickii</i> Gray, 1831 (Chiroptera: Rhinopomatidae)

The mouse-tailed bats belong to family Rhinopomatidae face serious threat due to habitat destruction. A study on distribution, roost selection and reproductive behaviour of the lesser mouse-tailed bat, Rhinopoma hardwickii (Gray, 1831) was carried out in Uttar Pradesh as the state holds good number of historical monuments and natural caves suitable for survival of R. hardwickii. The individuals of R. hardwickii were characterized by long free tail, well developed muzzle like snout of pig, connected ear pinnae and hairless lower abdomen. The distribution of R. hardwickii was observed in dry and rocky regions of Uttar Pradesh. The roosts of R. hardwickii found in historical monuments, abandoned buildings and natural caves. The average temperature (29.8 ± 2.0 °C) and relative humidity (63.6 ± 4.2 %) did not fluctuate among the roosts. The colony size was ranged from 120 to 930 individuals. The bats occupied the surface of wall and attics solitarily during summer and clustered during winter. Rhinopoma hardwickii shared roost with R. microphyllum (Brunnich, 1782), Taphozous nudiventris (Cretzschmar, 1826) and Hipposideros fulvus (Gray, 1838). The individuals of R. hardwickii undergone mating during February-March and the gravid females gave birth during June-July. The study suggests that R. hardwickii preferred arid region wherein monuments, abandoned buildings and natural caves abundant, as they offer suitable conditions and reduced disturbance for their survival. Thus, the monuments which harbour R. hardwickii need to be protected without much renovation and human disturbances.

Roosting Ecology and Distribution of Fulvous Roundleaf Bat Hipposideros fulvus Gray 1838, in Thar Desert of Rajasthan, India

Roosting Ecology and Distribution of Fulvous Roundleaf Bat Hipposideros fulvus Gray 1838, in Thar Desert of Rajasthan, India

<b>Re-sighting record of Fulvous Leaf-nosed Bat <I>Hipposideros fulvus</I> Gray, 1838 (Mammalia: Chiroptera: Hipposideridae) from Thar Desert, Rajasthan, India</b>

Here we report re-sighting records of the Fulvous Leaf-nosed Bat Hipposideros fulvus after a gap of almost four decades (37 years), from Rajasthan, India, on the basis of two male specimens collected from a cave dwelling colony of about 20 individuals from Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India. This species has been once reported in 1979 from a man-made tunnel in Mandore Garden in Jodhpur and later the same sighting information was re-quoted by several researchers. The present sighting from a new locality and the voucher specimen confirms the re-sighting of this species after a long gap.

Prevalence and genetic characterization of Toxoplasma gondii infection in bats in southern China

Toxoplasma gondii can infect a wide variety of warm-blooded animals, including bats. Limited information on T. gondii infection in bats is available in China. The objective of the present study was to determine prevalence and genetic diversity of T. gondii infection in bats in southern China. A total of 608 bats representing 12 species, including 120 Aselliscus stoliczkanus, 59 Myotis chinensis, 11 Miniopterus schreibersii, 53 Rhinolophus affinis, 32 Rhinolophus pusillus, 81 Hipposideros armiger, 28 Hipposideros fulvus, 32 Cynopterus brachyotis, 14 Cynopterus sphinx, 45 Eonycteris spelaea, 109 Hipposideros larvatus, and 24 Taphozous melanopogon, were collected from Yunnan and Guangxi provinces, southern China. They were examined for the presence of T. gondii DNA by amplification of the B1 gene using a nested PCR, and the positive samples were genotyped at 11 genetic loci (SAG1, 5′- and 3′-SAG2, alternative SAG2, SAG3, BTUB, GRA6, c22-8, c29-2, L358, PK1 and Apico) using multilocus polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technology. Fifty-nine (9.7%) of these bats were detected positive by PCR but only five of these positive DNA samples were completely typed at all loci; of which 4 samples, 2 from A. stoliczkanus, and 2 from H. larvatus, belonged to ToxoDB Genotype #10, and the other one from H. larvatus was identified as ToxoDB Genotype #9 (http://toxodb.org/toxo/). To our knowledge, this is the first report of molecular detection and genetic characterization of T. gondii infection in bats in China. The results show that these bats are potential reservoirs for T. gondii transmission, which may pose a threat to human health.

Molecular Characterization ofCryptosporidiumin Bats from Yunnan Province, Southwestern China

The present study was conducted to investigate the prevalence and genotypes of Cryptosporidium in bats. A total of 247 bats, belonging to Rhinolophus sinicus , Rousettus leschenaultia, Aselliscus stoliczkanus , and Hipposideros fulvus , were collected in Yunnan Province, Southwestern China, and the intestinal tissues were examined for Cryptosporidium infection by PCR amplification of the small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA). The overall infection rate was 7.7% (95% CI, 4.5 to 11.0%), with R. sinicus having the highest level at 9.5% (95% CI, 2.8 to 16.1%) followed by A. stoliczkanus at 7.8% (95% CI, 2.2 to 18.9%), H. fulvus at 7.2% (95% CI, 1.1 to 13.4%), and R. leschenaultia at 5.7% (95% CI, 1.2 to 15.7%). DNA sequence and phylogenetic analyses based on SSU rRNA revealed the presence of 2 novel genotypes, designated as Cryptosporidium bat genotype I in A. stoliczkanus and R. sinicus and Cryptosporidium bat genotype II in R. leschenaultia, R. sinicus , and H. fulvus . This is the first report of Cryptosporidium genotypes in bats. Further biological and genetic characterization is needed to determine the relationship of the 2 novel genotypes to established Cryptosporidium species-genotypes.

New distribution record and a review on Hipposideros fulvus Gray, 1838 (Mammalia: Chiroptera: Hipposideridae) distribution from Andhra Pradesh, India

We report a new distribution record and review the earlier records of the Fulvous roundleaf bat, Hipposideros fulvus, from Andhra Pradesh, India, based on a female specimen collected from Hyderabad, India. This species has been hitherto reported from only two localities in Andhra Pradesh and has been missed out from most of the reports and publications.

Isolation and Characterization of Cellulose-Degrading and Xylanolytic Bacteria from the Short-Nosed Fruit BatCynopterus sphinx

Cynopterus sphinx is a frugivorous bat also known to feed regularly on leaves. This raises the question whether microorganisms capable of digesting such a diet are present in the gut. In the present study cellulolytic and xylanolytic bacteria were isolated from the intestine of C. sphinx on Berg's agar medium containing carboxymethyl cellulose and xylan. The isolated cultivable cellulose and xylan degrading bacteria were characterized biochemically and identified to be Bacillus sp., Clostridium sp., Streptococcus sp., and Staphylococcus sp. Among the cultivable bacteria from the intestine of the insectivorous Hipposideros fulvus, which was used as a control, no cellulolytic and xylanolytic bacteria could be isolated. We hypothesize that leaves could be a carbohydrate source for bats. By isolating polysaccharide-degrading bacteria from the intestine of C. sphinx, we infer that they help in digestion of xylan and soluble cellulose in their diet.

Record of Fulvus Leaf-nosed Bat Hipposideros fulvus Gray, 1838 from Jammu and Kashmir, India

© Zoo Outreach Organisation; www.zoosprint.org Manuscript 1364; Received 23 May 2005; Finally accepted 09 December 2005; Date of publication 21 February 2006 2197 March 2006 | ISSN 0973-2535 (Print edition); 0973-2551 (Online edition) Fulvous Leaf-nosed Bat Hipposideros fulvus Gray, 1838 (Chiroptera: Hipposideridae) is a mediumto small-sized bat with characteristically very large ears (Bates & Harrison, 1997; Roberts, 1977). The average forearm length of 40.4mm distinguishes it externally from closely resembling species H. ater Templeton, 1848 in which average forearm length is 36.3mm (Bates & Harrison, 1997). The pelage colour is variable including dull yellow, pale grey, dull brown and golden orange (Brosset, 1962). This species is endemic to the Indian subcontinent except for a marginal population in eastern Afghanistan as reported by Gaislar (1970). The recorded distribution of this species in India includes Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Orissa, Nicobar Island and perhaps absent in the North East (Bates & Harrison, 1997; Hill et al., 1986). The population of this species seems to be contiguous throughout the distributional range except for Nicobar Island (Molur et al., 2002).

Digestion of cellulose and xylan by symbiotic bacteria in the intestine of the Indian flying fox ( Pteropus giganteus)

Bats (Order Chiroptera) are a widely distributed group of mammals. Pteropus giganteus belongs to the Suborder Megachiroptera. This bat consumes fruits and leaves as their major food. Cellulose and xylan are the major composition of leaves. As they consume leaves in their diet, their digestive tract must contain cellulolytic and xylanolytic bacteria which help in the digestion of cellulose and xylan. The cellulolytic and xylanolytic bacteria were isolated and screened on Berg's agar containing cellulose and xylan. The bacteria isolated were characterized biochemically and found to be Proteus vulgaris, Proteus mirabilis, Citrobacter freundii, Serratia liquefaciens and Klebsiella oxytoca. These bacteria help in digestion of cellulose and xylan in the diet of the bat, P. giganteus. Here we show that leaves are also used as a carbohydrate source by these bats. An insectivorous bat, Hipposideros fulvus, was used as a control and does not possess cellulolytic and xylanolytic bacteria.

Communication and synchronization of circadian rhythms in insectivorous bats

There is communication and social synchronization of the circadian rhythm in the flight activity of the microchiropteran cave-dwelling batHipposideros speoris. Thus captive bats surrounded by free-flying conspecifics synchronize their activity to the colony activity. The circadian rhythm of a solitary bat in a solitary cave freeruns. Even the rhythm of an ‘alien’ bat (Taphozous nudiventris kachhensis) held captive in the hipposiderid bat cave freeruns. But the rhythms of a closely-related species,Hipposideros fulvus partially entrain to social cues fromHipposideros speoris. Social synchronization of circadian rhythms in bats may be species-specific. This synchronization is abolished when continuous light of 10–20 lux is shone inside the natural cave.

Chromosome Studies on Three Species ofHipposideros(Hipposideridae: Chiroptera)

SUMMARYChromosomal characteristics of Hipposideros fulvus pallisidus, H. lankadiva and H. speoris (Hipposideridae: Chiroptera) are being described for the first time. The various species possess 2n = 32, FN = 60. The karyotype is almost similar in them. The autosomes and the sex chromosomes X and Y are biarmed. The relative length of the chromosomes in the species are nearly identical.

Foetal membranes and placentation in the Indian leaf-nosed bat,Hipposideros fulvus fulvus (Gray)

1.Hipposideros fulvus fulvus breeds once a year in a restricted season. The uterus is bicornuate and is morphologically symmetrical. However, the left side shows a slight physiological dominance over the right side. During each cycle a single young is produced.

Karyotypes of Five Indian Species of Microchiroptera

SUMMARYTaphozous melanopogon and T. l. longimanus (family Emballonuridae, have 2N=42, Megaderma I. lyra (family Megadermatidae) has 2N = 54 and Hipposideros fulvus and H. a. ater (family Hipposideridae) have 2N=32. The chromosomes of Megadermatidae and Hipposideridae have been studied for the first time. Interrelationships on the basis of available chromosome data and also the probable mechanisms of karyotype evolution in these Indian species of Microchiroptera are discussed.